No Christmas Eve launch for Astrobotic lunar lander
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Pittsburgh space startup Astrobotic’s lunar lander Peregrine won’t be leaving for the moon on Christmas Eve after all.
The lander had been scheduledto launch on Dec. 24 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, carried by a Vulcan Centaur rocket from Colorado-based United Launch Alliance.
However, on Sunday, United Launch Alliance CEO Tory Bruno said the launch of the Vulcan rocket would be delayed, due to routine issues with the ground system. The next launch window, he said, is Jan. 8.
#VulcanRocket WDR update: Vehicle performed well. Ground system had a couple of (routine) issues, (being corrected). Ran the timeline long so we didn't quite finish. I'd like a FULL WDR before our first flight, so XMAS eve is likely out. Next Peregrine window is 8 Jan.
— Tory Bruno (@torybruno) December 10, 2023
During recent testing, the vehicle performed well, but ground system problems arose, Bruno said in a social media post. A full dress rehearsal won’t be able to take place in time for Christmas.
The launch of Peregrine will be Astrobotic’s first. The company was founded in 2007 and operates out of a 47,000-square-foot facility on North Lincoln Avenue in the North Side of Pittsburgh.
Astrobotic was awarded $79.5 million from NASA to deliver scientific payloads to the northern part of the moon.
When it launches, Peregrine will be carrying 21 payloads from governments, companies, universities and NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program. The lander itself is about 6 feet tall and 8 feet wide, with a payload capacity of about 120 kilograms, or 265 pounds.