Peregrine mission abandoned its goal of reaching the moon after 'severe loss of fuel'

he Shaheen unitwho left on Monday at moon More than fifty years after the last landing on the moon United States of AmericaIt has only 40 hours of fuel, which will not allow it to reach its scheduled destination on February 23, according to the company. Astrobotic.

the First Shaheen Mission (PM1) It was successfully launched early Monday on The powerful new Vulcan Centaur rocket to United Launch Alliance (ULA) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida But after a few hours he started losing energy.

Although the engineers managed Redirect panels From unit to The sun for your energy supply He added that they regained contact with the ship, and showed a “severe loss of fuel.” Astrobotic In an update to the mission.

“if it was The thrusters can continue to work“We believe the spacecraft can continue in a stable orientation state for approximately 40 additional hours based on current fuel consumption,” the company, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania).

Given the new panorama, Astrobotic He said that the goal now is to bring Shaheen unit “As much as possible” moon Before it loses its power.

The unit was in front of her 46 day trip to reach The surface of the moon And it becomes The first American ship When landing on the moon in 1972.

pilgrim Transports scientific instruments a pot Within her initiative Commercial Lunar Shipping Services (CLPS) Which will be the purpose of study Lunar outer shell (outer layer), Thermal properties of lunar regolith (the layer of unconsolidated material that settles on solid rock), and abundance hydrogen On the ground at the landing site and follow up Radiation environment.

the Investigation missionsone of them is Mexican, will also help to understand better Processes and planetary evolutionLook for evidence of existence Water and other resourcesand support Sustainable human exploration long-term.

In this sense a pot He stressed on Monday that despite the “setback” the lunar module suffered, there was “more” to it. Instruments for space exploration“.

Responsible for a pot, Bill NelsonSocial media highlighted the “success” on this day The new Vulcan Centaur rocket.

He added that Astrobotic “Advances” for deliveries as part of the initiative CLPS And based on Artemis program Back to moon.

Astrobotic Also works with a pot “To determine the impact of the five scientific investigations the agency is conducting on board the spacecraft pilgrim“.

he Shaheen unit It also carried a piece of rock from it Mount EverestAnd ash and DNA “A space enthusiast like a builder”Star Trek“, Gene Roddenberry.

(With information from EFE)