THE Pilgrim spaceshippart of the private mission with which the United States tried to return to the Moon after more than 50 years, will end without reaching its goalor, as it will burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere in the next few hours after its failed journey to the natural satellite.
The company Astrobotic Technology reported that its module is returning from the vicinity of the Moon. Company employees expect the mission to conclude this Thursday.
Astrobotic is working with NASA to track the module’s trajectory and has noticed it should not pose any risk for safety during your fiery entrance.
The lander, called Peregrine, lifted off from Cape Canaveral on Monday last week. However, he quickly put up a batting average of fuel leak which forced Astrobotic to abandon its attempt to make the first American moon landing in more than 50 years. The company suspects that a stuck valve caused the tank to rupture.
Astrobotic explained that it consulted with NASA and other government officials to conclude the mission in the best possible way. The company said it did not want to put satellites around the Earth at risk or create a danger for future spacecraft flying to the Moon.
It was a “difficult decision”, the company said in a statement. “By responsibly terminating Peregrine’s mission, we are doing our part to preserve the future” of space exploration.
NASA paid more than $100 million to perform experiments on the Peregrine module. It’s part of the space agency’s attempts to commercialize lunar deliveries by private companies as the government works to return astronauts to the Moon.
The module also carried aboard a Carnegie Mellon University rover and other privately funded research, as well as the ashes and DNA of 70 people, including “Stark Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry and science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke.
Another American company, Intuitive Machines, will launch its own lunar module next month.
Astrobotic itself will have another opportunity in November with its Griffin lander, which will carry NASA’s VIPER explorer to the lunar south pole.
Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.