Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 06:24pm on 14 Jan 2024,Sunday Science
Astrobotic's Peregrine, the inaugural U.S. private moon lander, confronts an imminent collision with Earth following a fuel leak post-launch on January 8. Hindered by the propellant loss, Peregrine's intended moon landing in February becomes unfeasible. The leak's deceleration allows extended operational life, but the craft is now positioned for atmospheric burn-up on Earth. While engineers explore salvage options, uncertainty surrounds the impact date. The mission's significance lies in being the first U.S. private lunar lander, carrying NASA experiments and commercial payloads. A joint press conference by Astrobotic and NASA is scheduled for January 18.
