Compromised Space Vessel Intended for Moon Landing to Crash Back to Earth: Update
In a surprising turn of events, the compromised space vessel that was originally intended to place the ashes of “Star Trek” cast members on the surface of the moon is now being prepared for a controlled crash back to Earth. Astrobotic, the private space robotics company hired by Celestis and NASA for this mission, recently released an update on the planned crash in the Pacific Ocean.
Astrobotic announced that they have positioned the Peregrine spacecraft for a safe and controlled re-entry to Earth over a remote area of the South Pacific. The company has been working closely with NASA to continuously monitor the re-entry analysis, which indicates a path over the designated area with no anticipated hazards.
The top priority for Astrobotic is ensuring a safe re-entry, so they have developed a two-step maneuver to move the spacecraft and change its projected trajectory. Despite the solar batteries on the Peregrine lunar lander being at full charge, the spacecraft carrying the lander is expected to run out of fuel in approximately 40 hours due to a propellant leak. This unfortunate situation leaves no chance of a soft landing on the Moon, as stated by Astrobotic.
The mission began with the Peregrine blasting off on a United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida. It was an inaugural launch for the NASA program, and alongside the NASA payloads, the Peregrine lander was carrying the remains of several “Star Trek” cast members and the DNA of former President John F. Kennedy, among others.
However, things took a turn for the worse when a failure in the spacecraft’s propulsion system caused a critical loss of failure, ultimately forcing Astrobotic to abandon its moon landing mission. The first image taken by the Astrobotic Peregrine Mission One lander showed the Multi-Layer Insulation in the foreground, which aligns with telemetry data pointing to a propulsion system anomaly.
Before the announcement of this anomaly, Astrobotic had planned for the Peregrine craft to attempt a landing on the moon on February 23. However, with the current situation, re-entry is now targeted for Thursday, and a comprehensive mission update will be provided during a media telecon scheduled for Friday, January 19.
This unexpected turn of events has left many disappointed, especially those who were eagerly awaiting the historic moon landing and the placement of “Star Trek” cast members’ ashes on the lunar surface. Nevertheless, Astrobotic and NASA are working diligently to ensure a safe crash landing back on Earth, and further updates will be provided as the situation unfolds.
In conclusion, while the original mission may have been compromised, the perseverance and dedication of the teams involved in this space endeavor are commendable. The story of the compromised space vessel intended for a moon landing serves as a reminder of the challenges and risks inherent in space exploration. Despite setbacks, the pursuit of scientific discovery and exploration continues to push boundaries and captivate our imagination.