NASA's Landing Robot Is Almost Complete, Will Fly To The Moon Later This Year

Moon illustration. (Pexels/Antonio Moura)

JAKARTA - NASA is claimed to be launching a mission to the moon later this year, with Astrobotic Technology's Peregrine robotic lander nearing completion.

Under NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, Peregrine is scheduled to be sent to the moon on the first launch of the United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur (ULA) rocket in the fourth quarter (Q4) 2022.

According to the CEO of Astrobotic Technology, John Thornton, who showed off the robot recently. Now the Peregrine is still being assembled.

The remaining work includes the installation of solar panels, two fuel tanks, and a deck that holds the payload.

"The engine is nearing completion, and will soon be installed. In just a few months, it will be heading towards environmental testing," said Thornton.

"This is our nation's first lander to return to the lunar surface, nearly 50 years since Apollo."

Peregrine, in fact, is one of two commercial landers in development to be launched next year for the CLPS program. Currently, Intuitive Machines is also working on the Nova-C lander for the IM-1 mission.

Previously, Astrobotic Technology said the IM-1 would launch later this year but had not given a specific date.

Citing SpaceNews, Saturday, April 23, Peregrine is also a pathfinder for the much larger lander, the Griffin. Currently, Griffin is under construction by Astrobotic to send NASA's VIPER rover to the moon's south pole by the end of 2023.

The south pole of the moon is where the resource is located.

But first, Peregrine had to get to the moon first. Showing Peregrine to the public is a sign that the mission remains on track for launch this year.

If all goes according to plan, the spacecraft will deliver 24 payloads to the lunar surface.

The payload contained 11 scientific instruments from NASA, a rover from Carnegie Mellon University, cargo from several other companies, and cultural messages from individuals around Earth. This payload has been integrated into the Peregrine flight deck, which will soon be installed on the lander.

Later, Peregrine is slated to be the first spacecraft to fly on a ULA rocket, the successor to ULA's Atlas V and Delta IV launchers. The ULA rocket's maiden flight was originally scheduled for 2021, but was delayed due to supply chain issues for the Peregrine lander.