First US lunar lander since 1972 launched: The mission, significance
Context- A private US company launched a spacecraft carrying NASA’s scientific instruments from Florida on January 8, aiming to be the first US spacecraft to land on the Moon in over 50 years. The Peregrine lander module and the Vulcan rocket were both built by private US space companies as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, which is a part of the ambitious Artemis programme planning a significant return to the Moon.
If successful, this would be the first landing of a private spacecraft on the Moon, following unsuccessful attempts by a Japanese company last year and an Israeli company in 2019. However, the spacecraft encountered technical issues hours after launch, which could potentially derail the mission. The problem is preventing the spacecraft from maintaining a stable Sun-pointing orientation, which could affect the charging of the spacecraft’s solar power batteries. Astrobotic Technology, the company that built the spacecraft, is working to rectify the issue.
The mission
- The Peregrine lander, built by Astrobotic and launched by the Vulcan heavy rocket from United Launch Alliance, carries five payloads from NASA. The spacecraft is expected to reach the Moon in over 40 days and land on February 23.
- The payloads are designed for various exploratory activities, including water detection. One payload, the Laser Retroreflector Array, is a set of mirrors that will allow precise distance measurements of other spacecraft by reflecting light.
- This instrument will be permanently deployed on the Moon’s surface and will serve as a distance marker. The other payloads will remain active for ten days post-landing.
Return to Moon
- No US spacecraft has landed on the Moon since Apollo 17 in December 1972, the last of six Apollo missions that allowed two astronauts each to walk on the Moon’s surface. The US reignited its lunar interest in the 1990s, sending several Orbiters to study the lunar surface and environment from afar. In 2018, the US decided to return to the Moon for longer stays.
- The Artemis programme plans to send a series of Moon missions in the coming years, including those carrying astronauts. The first Artemis mission, which orbited the Moon and returned to Earth, was launched on November 22. NASA plans to send the first crewed mission into space next year and attempt a human landing on the Moon in 2025.
- The Artemis programme aims to establish a permanent base camp on the Moon, send astronauts and robots for longer stays for comprehensive exploration, and conduct scientific studies of the lunar surface and atmosphere.
- It also plans to explore opportunities for utilizing resources available on the Moon, with the ultimate goal of launching deep space missions from the lunar surface.
Collaboration with private sector
- NASA’s Artemis programme has partnered with the private space industry through the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. Currently, at least 14 private companies have been contracted to carry NASA payloads to the Moon. This collaboration aims to create a market and technology ecosystem in the private space industry for lunar exploration.
- The launch on Monday was the first under the CLPS initiative. Nicola Fox, associate administrator of Science Mission Directorate at NASA, expressed excitement about this vision becoming a reality. NASA administrator Bill Nelson referred to it as a “giant leap for humanity”.
- The first CLPS launch has sent payloads to the Moon, marking a significant step as we prepare to return to the lunar surface for the first time in over half a century.
- These high-risk missions will not only conduct new science on the Moon, but they are also supporting a growing commercial space economy while demonstrating the strength of American technology and innovation.
- The CLPS missions will help us better understand the evolution of our solar system and shape the future of human exploration for the Artemis generation.
Conclusion- The launch of the Peregrine lander, carrying NASA payloads and built by private US space companies, marks a significant milestone in lunar exploration. This mission, part of NASA’s Artemis programme, aims to return to the Moon for longer stays and comprehensive scientific studies.
Despite encountering technical issues, the mission represents the growing collaboration between NASA and the private space industry, fostering a robust commercial space economy. If successful, it will not only enhance our understanding of the Moon and our solar system but also pave the way for future deep space missions.
