Last-minute glitches aside, Peregrine Mission 1, named after the fastest animal on Earth, will roar into the sky at 7.18am UK time on Monday. After looping round the planet, it will head to the moon and slip into lunar orbit before an attempted landing soon after local sunrise on 23 February.
Even in the white-knuckle world of space exploration, the mission is considered risky. While Nasa has instruments aboard the robotic lander, this is a commercial operation. No private company has ever achieved a soft landing on the moon or any other celestial body.
"There's a lot riding here," said John Thornton, the CEO of Astrobotic Technology, the Pittsburgh-based firm leading the mission. "It's a mix of emotions - there's thrill and excitement, but I'm also a bit terrified because there's a lot on the line." Adding to the nerves is the fact that the rocket Peregrine lander sits on has never flown before, though the Vulcan's manufacturer, United Launch Alliance, has a 100% success rate with its predecessor rockets.
This story is from the January 06, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the January 06, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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