First US lunar lander since 1972 launched: The mission, significance

First US lunar lander since 1972 launched: The mission, significance

Subject :Science and Tech

Section: Space tech

In the news:

• A US private company launched a spacecraft carrying NASA’s scientific instruments, aiming to be the first US craft to land on the Moon in 50+ years.

Details

• The Peregrine lander module of the mission, as well as the Vulcan rocket that launched it, have both been built by private space companies in the US.
• As part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, it involves private space companies in the Artemis program for lunar exploration.
  • NASA is working with several American companies to deliver science and
  • technology to the lunar surface through the CLPS initiative.
• The spacecraft was carrying five NASA payloads.
• Instruments onboard will perform various tasks, including water detection and placing a Laser Retroreflector Array for precise measurements.
  • A laser Retroreflector Array is a collection of several mirrors that would allow precision measurements of the distance of other orbiting or landing spacecraft by reflecting light from them. This particular instrument would remain permanently deployed on the Moon’s surface and would act as a marker for distances on the Moon.
• The Artemis program intends to establish a sustainable lunar presence, with plans for crewed missions by 2025 and aims for deep space exploration from the Moon’s surface.
• NASA’s collaboration with private firms, like this launch under CLPS, aims to advance lunar exploration while fostering a commercial space industry.
• Officials expressed excitement about this mission’s potential scientific discoveries and its role in shaping future human exploration endeavours.

Hakuto-R mission:

• Launched in 2023
• A Japanese mission to land on the moon.
• It was not successful.

Source: Indian Express