The mission will be lifted off by the United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur rocket and will carry a variety of payloads, including NASA-sponsored instruments and international contributions. The mission aims to investigate the lunar exosphere, measure neutron levels, enable precision laser ranging, study volatiles and radiation, and dissect volcanic features on the moon.
Key Points:
- Peregrine Lunar Lander: The mission is the first to launch under NASA’s CLPS initiative, facilitated by Astrobiotic, and will use the United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur rocket.
- NASA-sponsored payloads: Five NASA-sponsored payloads will be onboard Peregrine, including the Peregrine ion trap mass spectrometer (PITMS) for studying the lunar exosphere, a neutron spectrometer system (NSS) for measuring neutron levels, a lunar retroreflector array (LRA) for precision laser ranging, a near-infrared volatiles spectrometer system (NIRVSS) for surface composition analysis, and a linear energy transfer spectrometer (LETS) for radiation monitoring.
- International contributions: The mission will carry contributions from seven nations, including Japan’s Lunar Dream capsule, Elysium Space’s lunar memorials, and Seychelles’ one bitcoin.
- Launch and landing timeline: Launch is scheduled for around 1:50 a.m. ET on Dec 24, with potential rain dates on the following days. The lander is expected to touch down on the lunar surface on Jan 25, 2024.
- Lunar orbit: After launch, the spacecraft will reach lunar orbit approximately 12 days later, marking a critical phase of the mission.
- Technological challenges: Landing on the moon is a complex task, requiring precise coordination of robotic vehicle engines, navigation systems, radios, and various systems to achieve a soft landing.
- Campaign of lunar missions: NASA’s CLPS initiative allows scientists to regularly send instruments to the moon, providing multiple opportunities for lunar research and exploration.
In summary, the Peregrine Lunar Lander mission will launch on Christmas Eve, carrying a range of payloads to study the moon’s exosphere, neutron levels, surface composition, and more. It marks a significant step in NASA’s CLPS initiative, enabling a campaign of lunar missions for scientists and researchers.