NASA’s Artemis 1 Space Launch System is preparing for a historic launch in November 2022 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The mission is part of NASA’s ambitious Artemis program, which aims to put humans back on the moon by 2024. In anticipation of the manned missions, NASA has commissioned various US companies through the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program to send scientific instruments and technologies to the moon.
One such company is the private American company Astrobotic, which has set its sights on landing the lunar lander Peregrine on the moon on January 25. This mission is of great importance, as Peregrine will carry NASA instruments to study the lunar environment and gather valuable data for the upcoming Artemis missions. Astrobotic CEO John Thornton revealed that this groundbreaking mission will be attempted at a fraction of the usual cost, thanks to the company’s innovative approach.
The significant challenges involved in landing on the moon cannot be ignored, as only around half of the previous missions to the moon’s surface have been successful. However, Astrobotic is confident in its preparations and is determined to succeed where others have faced difficulties. They will be relying on the new rocket named Vulcan Centaur, developed by the ULA industrial group, to carry Peregrine into space. The takeoff is currently scheduled for December 24.
Once in lunar orbit, Peregrine will patiently wait until January 25 to commence its descent. This delay has been strategically planned to ensure favorable light conditions at the target landing site. The descent will be autonomously controlled, with Astrobotic’s control center closely monitoring the mission’s progress.
It is worth noting that other private companies, such as ispace and Israel, have faced setbacks and crashes in their lunar landing attempts. However, NASA stands by its decision to collaborate with companies like Astrobotic, Firefly Aerospace, Draper, and Intuitive Machines, acknowledging the inherent risks of space exploration. Not all missions may succeed, but the CLPS program has already played a pivotal role in developing the commercial infrastructure necessary to establish a lunar economy.
NASA’s Artemis program’s ultimate goal is to establish a base on the moon’s surface, paving the way for further exploration of the solar system. The launch of the Artemis 1 Space Launch System and Astrobotic’s mission to land Peregrine on the moon mark significant milestones in humanity’s journey to return to our celestial neighbor. With the countdown underway, excitement and anticipation are building within the scientific community and among space enthusiasts around the world.
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