Astrobotic Technology, a private American space company, has acknowledged that the Peregrine mission failed to achieve its primary goal of landing on the Moon. The mission was halted by a serious fuel leak tied to a malfunction in the spacecraft’s propulsion system. What happened was confirmed by the team and later communicated across their official channels. [Attribution: Astrobotic]
The company stated that due to the fuel leak, a soft lunar landing was not possible. The admission came after a period of investigation and discussion among engineers who analyzed sensor data and system performance in the hours following liftoff. The official note emphasized that safety margins were exhausted by the leak and that any landing attempt would have posed unacceptable risk to the lander and the mission team. [Attribution: Astrobotic]
Investigators proposed a likely mechanism for the failure. It appears the valve connecting the helium storage to the liquid oxygen oxidizer tank may not have fully closed after activation. This partial closure could have caused a pressure spike that compromised the oxidizer tank, culminating in an explosion shortly after launch. The sequence unfolded within a narrow window, underscoring how small anomalies can cascade into mission-ending events. [Attribution: Astrobotic]
Looking ahead, Peregrine was scheduled to touch down on February 23. In the wake of the setback, the team is prioritizing the preservation of the spacecraft’s remaining feasibility to operate in space long enough to gather critical data for future launches. Engineers estimate the battery system would require roughly 40 hours to reach a stable state, during which time ongoing telemetry and power management will inform subsequent design and testing. [Attribution: Astrobotic]
The episode is being reviewed in the context of broader Peregrine propulsion and storage challenges, with ongoing assessments aimed at preventing similar issues in later missions. The focus remains on thorough analysis, safety, and data collection to guide improvements for future lunar endeavors. [Attribution: Astrobotic]