First US Moon Lander Set to Launch Monday
The first US moon lander in over 50 years is scheduled to launch on Monday, January 8, 2024 at 2:18 AM ET. The Astrobotic lunar lander, Peregrine, will launch from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on the United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Centaur Rocket.
The Peregrine lander is a small robotic probe that will carry 20 experiments and international payloads, including six NASA instruments and a sensor valued at $108 million. The goal of the mission is to eventually turn the moon into a base for planetary travel.
The Vulcan rocket that will carry the Peregrine has never flown before, but its manufacturer, United Launch Alliance, has had a 100% mission success rate with its predecessor rockets. Recent forecasts show about an 85% chance of clear weather for takeoff.
Astroboti...