The lunar lander Peregrine, part of the American Artemis mission, will not achieve its goal. Due to a critical fuel leak caused by a malfunction in the propulsion system, the mission will be terminated prematurely. The lander was supposed to deliver nearly 90 kg of research equipment to the surface of the Moon, but now the priority is to gather as much scientific data as possible. This mission not only had scientific significance but also carried symbolic importance, marking the return of the United States to the Moon after more than 50 years.
The likely cause of the mission’s failure is related to the leak that occurred after the detachment from the rocket. The malfunction in the propulsion system prevented the proper orientation of the lander towards the Sun, meaning the loss of contact with Peregrine is inevitable. As a result, the entire payload weighing 90 kg will not reach the Moon.
On board Peregrine were various scientific instruments, including the PITMS spectrometer for studying the Moon’s atmosphere, the NSS device for searching for hydrogen in the regolith, NIRVSS equipment for surface composition analysis, the LETS cosmic radiation detector, LRA mirror set, and miniature rovers. The Peregrine mission also carried several time capsules, the ashes of 200 Earthlings, and the DNA of Arthur C. Clarke.
The Peregrine mission was part of the Artemis program, which aims to bring humans back to the Moon. This mission was the first launch of a probe under the Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, in which NASA selects proposals from private entities. Despite the Peregrine mission’s failure, the successful launch of the Vulcan rocket represents an important step towards future space missions.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What was the mission of the Peregrine lander?
The mission of the Peregrine lander was to deliver research equipment to the surface of the Moon as part of the Artemis program, which aims to bring humans back to the Moon.
2. What are Commercial Lunar Payload Services?
Commercial Lunar Payload Services is a program in which NASA selects proposals from private entities to send various scientifically useful payloads to the Moon.
3. What scientific instruments were on board Peregrine?
On board Peregrine, there were five main scientific devices, including the PITMS spectrometer for studying the Moon’s atmosphere, the NSS device for searching for hydrogen in the regolith, NIRVSS equipment for chemical composition analysis of the Moon’s surface, the LETS cosmic radiation detector, and the LRA mirror set.
Definitions:
– Moon: The natural satellite of the Earth.
– Regolith: Surface material composed of fine grains of rock, found on the surface of the Moon and other celestial bodies.
– Atmosphere: The layer of gases surrounding a planet or another astronomical object.
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