The first American attempt at a moon landing in more than 50 years appears doomed to failure after a fuel leak.
First US moon landing attempt in more than 50 years appears doomed after private company’s spacecraft experiences fuel leak “critical” just hours after Monday’s launch.
Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic Technology successfully turned its lander toward the sun so the solar panel could capture sunlight and charge its battery, while a special team assessed the condition of what was called of “propulsion system failure”.
However, it quickly became apparent that there was a “critical fuel loss”which further reduced the hope of a moon landing scheduled for February 23.
Late Monday, the company said the leak was continuing and estimated the lander would begin losing solar power in about 40 hours.
The problem was reported about seven hours after dawn liftoff from the Cape Canaveral space station. The United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan rocket provided propulsion for Astrobotic’s lander, called Peregrine.
Astrobotic aimed to be the first private company to successfully land on the moon, something only four countries have managed to do. A second lander, made by a Houston company, is scheduled to launch next month. NASA paid millions to both companies to build and fly their own lunar landers.
The space agency wants private landers to explore the place before the astronauts arrive, while delivering technological and scientific experiments to the space agency, other countries and universities, as well as various objects to other customers. Astrobotic’s contract with NASA for the Peregrine lander was worth $108 million and other projects are in the works.
The last time the United States launched a moon landing mission was in December 1972. Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt of the Apollo 17 mission became the 11th and 12th men to walk on the moon, ending in an era that remained NASA’s heyday.
Next month, SpaceX will transport a lander from Intuitive Machines. The Houston company’s Nova-C lander takes a more direct, week-long path to the moon.
In addition to carrying out experiments for NASA, Astrobotic has developed its own cargo business, packing the 1.9 meter high Peregrine lander. Aboard the lander: a piece of rock from Mount Everest, toy cars from Mexico, and the ashes and DNA of deceased space enthusiasts, including “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry and science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke.
The Navajo Nation recently requested that the launch be delayed due to the presence of human remains, saying it would be a “deep desecration” of a celestial body worshiped by Native Americans. Astrobotic Chief Executive John Thornton said the objections made in December came too late, but he promised to try to find “a good solution” with the Navajos for future missions.