Following a successful launch on Monday, January 8th, the Peregrine lunar landing mission began experiencing technical issues. Soon after separation from the Vulcan-Centaur rocket that propelled it into space, the Peregrine lunar lander encountered a significant setback due to electrical power problems caused by a propellant leak. Late Tuesday, Astrobotic announced that a soft landing on the moon had been ruled out.
Despite the failure, the team at Astrobotic Technology has been working to maximize the operational life of the lander. Even in its compromised state, scientists have now shifted efforts to gather as much data as possible from Peregrine’s scientific payloads. The spacecraft is expected to eventually lose its ability to maintain its sun-pointing position and will subsequently lose power.
As Peregrine continues its journey through space, the propellant leak has reportedly slowed, increasing the projected life of the mission. This is a developing story. Watch the Hernando Sun next week for a comprehensive mission update.
