More evidence that private space missions may regularly underestimate the mighty things the NASA of the 1960s and 1970s did.
Another private/commercial, uncrewed lunar landing mission looks like it has failed, all while I was flying back from the Rockies:
“…Unfortunately, it appears the failure within the propulsion system is causing a critical loss of propellant,” Astrobotic said in a mission update posted just after 1 p.m. ET. “The team is working to try and stabilize this loss, but given the situation, we have prioritized maximizing the science and data we can capture. We are currently assessing what alternative mission profiles may be feasible at this time.”
That could mean the company will not attempt to land the Peregrine lander on the moon, as it was expected to do on February 23.
Later on Monday, Astrobotic shared the first image of the Peregrine lander in space. The photograph showed the outer layers of insulation on the vehicle were crinkled….
So it goes — and to be clear, I am not faulting private uncrewed missions — I am praising what it took to do it all, the very first time, by the geniuses at NASA. Onward smiling — with perhaps six to ten inches due here by mid-morning tomorrow. Yikes.
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