Astrobotic’s priority is to bring the Peregrine as close to lunar distance as possible before it loses the ability to maintain its Sun-pointing position and subsequently loses power, as stated in a company release.
MLI Disturbed
The troubled Peregrine moon lander managed to capture its first photo in space, offering valuable insights into the spacecraft’s condition.
The image, shared via social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), reveals Multi-Layer Insulation (MLI) in the foreground. Astrobotic explained that the disturbance of the MLI aligns with telemetry data pointing to a propulsion system anomaly.
Originally scheduled for a historic moon landing on Feb. 23, the Peregrine’s loss of propellant has forced Astrobotic to explore alternative mission scenarios.
Despite the challenges, there is a glimmer of hope as the mission team successfully charged the lander’s battery. They are leveraging existing power for as many payload and spacecraft operations as possible before the inevitable loss.
