An American aerospace company said Monday that the spacecraft's lunar landing may not proceed as planned due to an engine problem during liftoff that could result in a lack of power.
Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic Technology announced the launch in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Monday morning went well Until an “anomaly” made it impossible for the spacecraft to “point stably toward the sun.”
Without active solar panels, the Peregrine spacecraft's energy reserves would be reduced, putting its lunar mission at risk, the company said. Aviation engineers were able to point the aircraft toward the sun to receive solar energy, but communication with the aircraft was lost shortly after.
It is unclear whether this maneuver was sufficient to restore solar power to the spacecraft.
Astrobotic aimed to become the first private company to successfully land on the moon, a feat achieved by only four countries. His second project, with a Houston-based company, is scheduled to begin next month. Both are supported by NASA.
Whatever the fate of the spacecraft, the launch was a decisive success for United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Astrobotic said the Vulcan Centaur rocket's successful launch set the stage for continued success as the U.S. Space Force's flagship rocket system.
Boeing and Lockheed hope that the success of the Vulcan Centaur will allow them to catch up with private aerospace giant SpaceX, which has dominated the field. United Launch Alliance has been the main government contractor for U.S. spaceflight since 2006, but has lost ground to SpaceX in recent years.
The Vulcan Centaur platform will replace two aging rocket propulsion systems that rely on Russian components. Both older platforms are scheduled to be phased out by next year.
The Associated Press contributed.
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