Astrobotic has just unveiled a flight model of its Peregrine lunar lander, which is due to be launched to the moon later this year.
Peregrine is designed to deliver payloads to the moon’s surface. Its first mission is scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year, which will make it the first American spacecraft to land on the moon since Apollo Programaccording to an email statement from the Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic.
Peregrine flew for the first lunar mission to NASA Lunar payload trade services (CLPS) program. The inauguration of the spacecraft took place at the company’s headquarters on Wednesday (April 20th), in the presence of NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and other agency officials.
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Another shot of the Peregrine lunar spacecraft, which is not yet fully assembled. (Image Credit: Astrobotic)
“This construction of a lunar spacecraft is a dream come true,” said John Thornton, CEO of Astrobotic, the statement said. “That’s why our company was founded 15 years ago. It is the culmination of countless hours over many years of hundreds of people designing and assembling the lander, creating the lunar supply market and creating the facilities and supply chain needed to ensure the success of commercial space missions like Peregrine’s long-standing the future. ”
The lunar spacecraft is assembled at the Astrobotic headquarters in Pittsburgh. The spacecraft is still under construction, with its solar panels, two fuel tanks, payload decks and engines still to be installed, according to SpaceNews.
To ensure that the sensitive components of the flight model were not contaminated, those present at the opening had to wear white overalls and hair nets to enter the clean room where Peregrine is assembled.
Senior officials attended the Peregrine inauguration in Pittsburgh on April 20, 2022. Pictured left to right: Congressman Matt Cartwright, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, NASA Assistant Administrator Thomas Zurbuchen, AstroboticA CEO John Thornton in space technology and J. Justin Kashnitsa, Chairman of the Constituent Board of the Keystone Space Collaborative. (Image Credit: Astrobotic)
The discovery of Peregrine is a sign that the mission remains on track to launch this year. If all goes according to plan, the spacecraft will deliver 24 payloads lunar surface, including 11 scientific instruments from NASA, a rover from Carnegie Mellon University, cargo from several other companies and cultural messages from people on Earth. These payloads are already integrated into Peregrine’s pilot decks, which will soon be installed on the lander, according to Astrobotic.
“Once Peregrine’s integration is complete, it will set out to test the spacecraft’s environment before being sent to Cape Canaveral in Florida to begin its final preparations for launch in the fourth quarter. [the fourth quarter of] 2022, “Astrobotic officials said in a statement.
The Peregrine lander will be the first spacecraft to fly the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Centaur Volcano Rocket – Successor to the ULA Atlas V and Delta IV launchers. Vulcan’s first flight was originally scheduled for 2021, but was delayed due to supply chain problems for the Peregrine lander.
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