Astrobotic successfully tested the Peregrine lunar lander. Reported by Space News.
Peregrine is a payload to the Moon developed by private company Astrobotic. It can lift 120 kilograms to the surface and work for an entire lunar day. The device has been selected as one of the carriers under the NASA CLPS program, where the agency has outsourced services from private contractors to deliver scientific instruments and other equipment to the moon, many of which are used to support the manned Arthemis program.
The company said it has now completed vibration and acoustic tests at Peregrine’s New York test bench. “Completion of environmental testing is a big step forward for our team,” said Pete Fry, spokesperson for Astrobotic. “These tests have confirmed that the spacecraft can fully withstand the harsh conditions it will encounter during launch, flight to the moon, and landing.” In particular, they validated its ability to withstand vibration from running engines and touching the lunar surface.
Peregrine hardware is currently being tested for immunity to electromagnetic interference, followed by thermal vacuum testing. Once these tests are complete, the lander will be sent to Cape Canaveral to integrate with the Vulcan Centaur rocket. The launch should take place in the first quarter of 2023.
Source: Gazeta
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