Peregrine Lunar Lander Suffers “Critical” Propellant Loss Written 9 January 2024
A ULA Vulcan rocket carrying Astrobotic’s Peregrine lunar lander lifts off at 2:18 a.m. EST from SLC 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, Monday, Jan. 8, 2024. | Credit: Isaac Watson; NASA
CNN reports Astrobotic Technology “said it is abandoning an attempt to put its Peregrine spacecraft on the moon less than 24 hours after the vehicle took flight” because the spacecraft “suffered ‘critical’ propellant loss.” As reported, “Just hours after launching from Florida toward the moon early Monday morning, the company announced the spacecraft was in jeopardy. The lunar lander, dubbed Peregrine, was unable to place itself in a position facing the sun, likely because of a propulsion issue, according to the company. The wayward orientation prevented the spacecraft from charging its batteries. The battery issue was later resolved, but Astrobotic was not able to correct the apparent issue with the Peregrine lander’s propulsion system.”
Full Story (CNN)