Astrobotic’s ill-fated Peregrine lunar lander may soon tumble through space, but in the meantime it’s collecting data for science.in update NASA announced Thursday that the payload aboard the lander successfully collected data. Astrobotic shared a similar update on X (formerly Twitter) earlier in the day.
NASA says it plans to extend Peregrine’s mission as long as possible to continue its data collection efforts. “Measuring and operating onboard scientific instruments provided by NASA will provide valuable experience, technical knowledge, and scientific data for future CLPS lunar deliveries,” he said. Joel Kearns, the directorate’s deputy assistant administrator for exploration, said in a statement. NASA announcement.
in joint mission Astrobotic, a private space company based in Pittsburgh, launched Peregrine Mission 1 in the early hours of January 8 in collaboration with NASA. The project was to be the first American moon landing in more than 50 years, with the ultimate goal of reaching the moon’s surface in late February. But a leak in Peregrine’s propulsion system was discovered shortly after liftoff, and the company announced Tuesday that it didn’t have enough propellant left to make a soft landing, and only had a few days’ worth left.
Peregrine was still operationally stable as of Thursday night.In an update posted Thursday at 4:01 p.m. PT, Astrobotic report Because the rate of the leak slowed over time, Peregrine has an estimated 48 hours of remaining fuel, much longer than previously predicted.
Peregrine also carries the Iris lunar rover. A small spacecraft built by Carnegie Mellon University students It was supposed to take pictures on the moon. A photo of Iris’ wheel and fuel tank with an American flag was also posted today by Astrobotic on Hex. Iris also message To the Earth: “Hello, Earth!”
