A private lunar lander which launched from the US this morning has suffered an “anomaly” – with experts trying to resolve the issue.
Peregrine Mission 1 – which took off on a new Vulcan rocket at 7.18am UK time – aimed to become the first US spacecraft due to land on the moon’s surface since Apollo 17 in 1972 and appeared to lift off into space as planned.
American company Astrobotic, in control of the launch, said Peregrine “successfully” separated from the rocket but an “anomaly” has since occurred which prevents it from “achieving a stable sun-pointing orientation”.
That suggests its solar panels won’t be harvesting anywhere near enough solar energy and if the company can’t quickly stabilise the robotic lander it will lose power, said Sky’s Thomas Moore.
An illustration depicting the Peregrine lunar lander on the surface of the moon. Pic: Astrobotic Technology via AP
Follow as it happened: Updates as Peregrine Mission-1 blasted off
A landing on the moon was scheduled for 23 February.
NASA has paid Astrobotic, a space logistics start-up, just $108m (£85m) for five scientific instruments to be carried to the moon, a fraction of the cost of launching its own mission.
The lander, which is the size of a garden shed, was also carrying the remains of several Star Trek cast members and the DNA of former US presidents including John F Kennedy.
Astrobotic chief executive John Thornton has previously said the craft will spend 12 days in transit between the Earth and lunar orbit but the bulk of the time will be waiting, circling the moon, for the “local lighting conditions” of the team’s landing site to be correct.
Astrobotic said on Monday that after successfully separating from United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket, the Peregrine lander began receiving telemetry via NASA.
The firm added that Astrobotic’s avionics systems, including the primary command and data handling unit, as well as the thermal, propulsion, and power controllers, all powered on and performed as expected.
“After successful propulsion systems activation, Peregrine entered a safe operational state,” it went on.
“Unfortunately, an anomaly then occurred, which prevented Astrobotic from achieving a stable sun-pointing orientation. The team is responding in real time as the situation unfolds and will be providing updates as more data is obtained and analysed.”
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Part of the reason for the renewal of interest in lunar missions is the discovery of water on the moon, which could hydrate astronauts and be the source of oxygen and fuel – saving future trips from having to store their own supplies.
It’s hoped the moon could provide a staging post for missions to Mars or even beyond.
Controversy over human remains
The Peregrine mission has attracted controversy because of some of its commercial payloads.
Among the remains on board are those of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenbury – along with his wife and son – as well as icons from the show Nichelle Nichols, James Doohan and DeForest Kelley, who played Nyota Uhura, Montgomery Scott and Dr Leonard McCoy.
The DNA of former US presidents George Washington, Dwight Eisenhower and John F Kennedy are also being transported.
The launch happened on Monday morning
The Navajo Nation of Native Americans had written to NASA demanding the launch should be delayed because there will be capsules on board containing human remains.
The nation’s president, Buu Nygren, said sending cremated remains to the moon “is tantamount to the desecration of this sacred space”.
Eyebrows have also been raised over other commercial payloads.
The delivery company DHL is launching its MoonBox programme, taking mementoes such as photos, novels and even a sample of Mount Everest to the lunar surface.
Astrobotic has shrugged off criticism of the mission’s commercial cargo.
“To be leading America back to the surface of the moon is a momentous honour,” said Mr Thornton.
