Astrobotic Abandons Moon Landing Mission as Peregrine Spacecraft Suffers Critical Propellant Loss
(Source – Agencia EFE) In a disappointing turn of events, Astrobotic Technology, the company heralded for developing the first lunar lander to launch from the United States in fifty years, has announced the abandonment of its moon landing mission. This decision comes less than 24 hours after the Peregrine spacecraft embarked on its journey. The setback was attributed to a “critical” loss of propellant caused by a fuel leak , rendering the mission in jeopardy shortly after the vehicle’s launch from Florida towards the moon on a Monday morning. Astrobotic revealed that the lunar lander, named Peregrine, encountered difficulties orienting itself to face the sun, likely due to a propulsion issue. This misalignment hindered the spacecraft’s ability to charge its batteries, putting the entire mission in jeopardy. Align the 6-foot-tall box-shaped lander in space While the battery issue was eventually resolved, the company faced insurmountable challenges rectifying the propulsion s...