The new Vulcan Centaur rocket of the United Launch Alliance is ready to carry Peregrine, the first lunar lander of America to be sent to the moon in over 50 years. This mission could become a turning point in universe-related discoveries. The spacecraft was not developed by NASA but by Astrobotic, which is a Pittsburgh-based private company. If the mission is successful, then Peregrine will become the first commercial spacecraft to land on the moon or any other celestial body outside Earth.
Astrobotic is a company that was chosen to carry the lunar deliveries as a part of NASA’s new commercial lunar payload services program. The mission, scheduled to launch on January 8 at 2:18 AM ET, is the first project under the $79.5 million contract with the space agency. While it is completely commercial, it will deliver five payloads to help NASA in the Artemis mission; it will also have cargo for other clients, for $1.2 million for one kilogram. It will have mini-rovers, science products, and physical bitcoin and human remains as well.
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Peregrine is going towards the nearside of the moon, its earth-facing hemisphere. The lander has dimensions of 6 feet in length and 8 feet wide. The lander is supposed to land in the Sinus Viscositatis region, also known as the “Bay of Stickiness” because of the segments formed by thick silicic lava.
Astrobotic Technology is a commercial organization that offers lunar cargo services. The company, founded in 2007, claims itself to be the “largest private facility in the world dedicated to lunar logistics.” John Thornton, Chief Executive of Astrobotic, says that the launch will be a “wild ride.” The Peregrine lander is expected to land on the moon on February 23. According to NASA, the landing site might provide evidence of the presence of water on the moon.
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