Doomed Peregrine moon lander will ‘burn up’ on return to Earth after failed mission, says Astrobotic
The US lander manufacturer says it has worked with other space experts to evaluate the safest way to end the mission and ensure no damage is made to satellites orbiting the Earth.
The spacecraft which attempted the first US moon landing in more than 50 years is to be allowed to “burn up” during re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, the company behind the mission has said.
Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic said it had made the “difficult decision” to maintain the craft’s trajectory and was working with NASA and the space community to take the “safe and responsible” course of action.
The Peregrine lander developed a “critical” fuel leak hours after its launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, on 8 January.
The company said it had been “evaluating” the best and safest way to end the mission to ensure the protection of satellites and not create debris in cislunar space – the area between the Earth and the outer reaches of the moon’s orbit.
Astrobotic had aimed for a soft lunar landing on 23 February and to become the first private company to complete such a mission – but said last week there was “no chance” it would achieve its goal following the propellant leak.
In an update, Astrobotic said: “The recommendation we have received is to let the spacecraft burn up during re-entry in Earth’s atmosphere.
“Since this is a commercial mission, the final decision of Peregrine’s final flight path is in our hands.
“Ultimately, we must balance our own desire to extend Peregrine’s life, operate payloads, and learn more about the spacecraft, with the risk that our damaged spacecraft could cause a problem in cislunar space.
“As such, we have made the difficult decision to maintain the current spacecraft’s trajectory to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere.
