Groundbreaking LaunchUS Moon Lander Carrying Human Remains Preps for Historic Mission
Credit:Nasa
Astrobotic's 'Peregrine' lander, the first American moon-bound spacecraft in over 50 years, is set to launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, carrying 20 experiments and international payloads
Credit:Nasa
Scheduled for a January 8 launch, Peregrine is part of NASA's CLPS initiative, aiming to study lunar water molecules, radiation, gases, and the lunar exosphere
Credit:Nasa
The mission plans to touch down on the Moon's mid-latitude region, Sinus Viscositatis (Bay of Stickiness), on February 23
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Among its cargo are six NASA instruments, a $108 million sensor, a rover by Carnegie Mellon University, a physical Bitcoin, and unique items like personal mementos and artwork
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Sparking controversy arises; objecting to human remains on the moon
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Peregrine aims to achieve a controlled or 'soft' landing, potentially making Astrobotic the first private company to achieve this feat on the lunar surface
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CEO John Thornton expresses a mix of emotions, emphasizing the mission's significance and the stakes involved
Credit:Nasa
Controversy arises due to commercial payloads, prompting the Navajo Nation to demand a launch delay, citing the sacred nature of the moon in their cosmology