In a historic moment, the Vulcan Centaur rocket, the latest creation from United Launch Alliance (ULA), successfully propelled the Peregrine 1 lander toward the moon after lifting off from Cape Canaveral. This milestone launch not only marked the debut of ULA’s powerful rocket but also set the stage for the first private firm attempt at a lunar soft landing in the last five decades.
Constructed by space robotics firm Astrobotic, the Peregrine lunar lander embarked on its journey at 7:18 GMT. Following separation from the rocket, Astrobotic’s mission control swiftly received signals from the lander, which will assume a highly elliptical orbit en route to its lunar destination. The Peregrine is scheduled to touch down on the moon’s surface on February 23, aiming to achieve a significant breakthrough in private lunar exploration.
This mission represents a pivotal step under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, where private entities are contracted to transport scientific equipment to the moon. Laden with five NASA payloads and an additional 15 instruments, Peregrine’s objectives include gathering vital data about the lunar surface, aiding in mitigating risks, and facilitating future human missions.
Among the payloads, the mission carries the first Latin American scientific instruments striving to reach the moon. Additionally, five miniature moon rovers, each weighing less than 60g, will be deployed, along with a rover from Carnegie Mellon University. However, controversy surrounds some non-scientific payloads, such as a physical coin containing one bitcoin and a “lunar dream capsule” from Japan, encapsulating 185,872 messages from children worldwide.
United Launch Alliance’s CEO, Tory Bruno, expressed immense pride in the successful deployment of the lunar lander payload. He emphasized the monumental efforts invested in the Vulcan Centaur rocket’s development, positioning it as a significant player in the competitive satellite launch market.
The launch not only achieved a crucial mission for ULA but also carried a memorial payload into space, honoring individuals associated with the Star Trek television franchise. The remains and DNA of actors James Doohan, DeForest Kelley, Nichelle Nichols, and others found a final frontier in this commemorative journey, adding a poignant touch to the historic event.
