- Astrobotic’s Peregrine lander mission was altered after a fuel leak and solar panel issue post-launch.
- This is one of several setbacks related to NASA’s Artemis program, the revitalized moon landing program.
- SpaceX and other companies are partnered with NASA to pull off this historic, years-long program plan.
Humanity’s journey to the moon has always been a fascinating feat, yet fraught with technical challenges. The latest news on the return of humans to the surface of the moon highlights the complexities.
A commercial moon lander sent to scout the lunar surface ahead of NASA’s mission was determined to have been a failure shortly after launch. Here’s what’s going on.
Trouble With The Peregrine Lander
NASA officials hired a private company to “scout” the moon ahead of their planned Artemis missions to put humans on the lunar surface. Astrobotic Technology’s Peregrine lander was the first up and would have become the first American lander to reach the moon in over 50 years. However, shortly after launch, the mission faced a significant setback.
Experts determined that the lander experienced a critical fuel leak believed to be from a ruptured tank. Technicians also had trouble keeping its solar panels facing the sun, which is how the lander gets power.
It was decided that a soft landing on the lunar surface was all but impossible. Astrobotic Technology’s team pivoted the mission goal to attempt to pilot the craft stably for as much of the “lunar distance” as they could, though the craft was not actually headed in the direction of the moon.
On Wednesday morning, the group said in a statement“Although we are approaching lunar distance, the moon won’t be there.”
Background On NASA Artemis Program’s Setbacks
NASA’s ambitious, years-long Artemis program, aimed at returning humans to the moon, has faced a series of delays. Artemis III, the mission slated for the first crewed moon landing using SpaceX’s Starship, is now postponed until at least September 2026.
This decision comes as NASA deals with problems throughout the development of spacecraft and equipment, including the Orion capsule’s heat shield and electrical systems. Artemis II, involving a crewed lunar flyby, was also pushed back to September 2025.
Orion’s heat shield, seen here during installation, was charred and partially separated during re-entry while on a 2022 test flight.
(NASA/Kim Shiflett)
The Artemis program involves multiple groups and pieces of equipment beginning with the launch aboard Orionand then the transition to SpaceX’s Starship for moon surface operations. This program aims to land the first woman and first person of color on the moon while also preparing for potential future expeditions to Mars.
SpaceX’s Starship
SpaceX is a major player in the moon landing with its Starship rocket. This rocket is supposed to take astronauts from orbit down toward the moon.
But before it can do that, SpaceX needs to prove the rocket can be refueled in space. In November, the Government Accountability Office warned that the Artemis landing might be delayed even further until 2027, citing Starship as an area of concern.
What Does This Mean For A Moon Landing?
These delays are a big deal. They mean more time and money will be required before astronauts can successfully land on the moon once again. The cost of NASA’s moon landing is now estimated at about $93 billion by 2025.
Based in New York, Weather.com reporter Tim Harris is a digital journalist with a broad reporting portfolio that spans environmental science, lifestyle topics and breaking news.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
