After 50 years, America returns to the moon in January. The surprise is that it won’t be on a NASA spacecraft

JVTech News After 50 years, America returns to the moon in January. The surprise is that it won’t be on a NASA spacecraft

Welcome back to the moon

For more than five decades, Moon has maintained a peaceful retreat from America, but a new era is on the horizon. In January, a revolutionary lunar mission will change the game, and it won’t be with NASA, but with the daring private company Astrobotic.

A far cry from classic missions, the trip to the moon will not be manned this time. However, NASA’s Peregrine mission, designed by Astrobot, promises to mark a turning point in American space history, rekindling the pioneering spirit that once drove the Apollo missions.

Since Apollo 17 made its last footprint in December 1972, America has been silent on the moon. The dawn of a new era unfolds with Peregrine scheduled to land on the moon on January 25. A symbolic date commemorates the start of the Apollo missions.

But this time it is a different scene. Peregrine, the astrobotic machine, is poised to become the new symbol of lunar exploration. At two meters tall and two and a half wide, it’s not just a mission, but a bold statement about the future of commercial space exploration.

An innovative task

NASA’s CLPS-1 mission stands out for its unique approach. Peregrine has nine science instruments, including spectrometers dedicated to studying lunar regolith and radiation levels. But beyond science, the mission comes with unexpected elements, such as a time capsule from the Arch Foundation and a plaque containing Bitcoin’s private key. A modern way to put a mark on lunar history.

Adding to the excitement is the planned launch for December 24 aboard ULA’s new Vulcan Centaur launcher, powered by Blue Origin’s revolutionary engines. The mission will begin in lunar orbit, waiting for the right moment to land on the moon on January 25, a daring maneuver in the moonlight.

However, beyond the excitement, challenges lie ahead. The launcher, like the BE-4 engines, never tasted the reality of space flight. Only half of lunar missions are successful, but the team behind Peregrine is ready to face the unknown, proving that space exploration is not the preserve of caution.

Since Apollo 17, robots have been exploring the moon on behalf of various nations. After a long gap, now America has joined this robotics adventure. Meanwhile, China, Russia and even India have landed spots on the moon, underscoring the importance of a continued presence beyond our planet.