Astrobotic Peregrine
.jpg) Peregrine Mission One prior to launch | |
| Manufacturer | Astrobotic Technology |
|---|---|
| Designer | Astrobotic |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Operator | Astrobotic |
| Applications | Lunar payload delivery and support |
| Specifications | |
| Spacecraft type | Lunar lander |
| Payload capacity | 100 kg (220 lb) |
| Production | |
| Status | In production |
| On order | 2 |
| Built | 1 |
| Launched | 1 |
| Failed | 1 |
The Astrobotic Peregrine robotic spacecraft are a class of lunar landers designed and operated by Astrobotic Technology to deliver small payloads to the surface of the Moon. NASA has awarded three Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) task orders to Astrobotic for Peregrine-class missions. The first mission, Peregrine Mission One, launched in January, 2024. That mission experienced a propellant leak shortly after the lander was deployed into orbit, and did not reach the Moon. The other two Peregrine task orders were awarded to Astrobotic in June, 2026.
Funding
In November, 2018 NASA announced that nine companies, including Astrobotic, were eligible for CLPS task orders.[1] In May, 2019 Astrobotic was awarded CLPS Task Order 2-AB, initially valued at $79.5 million.[2] The two missions assigned to Peregrine in June, 2026 were reported as being a combined $297.9 million award.[3]
Design
The Peregrine lander is approximately 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) wide and 1.9 m (6 ft 3 in) tall.[4] Astrobotic asserts a Peregrine lander can deliver 100 kg (220 lb) to the lunar surface at a polar landing site.[5]
Structure
The Peregrine mechanical structure is made of aluminum alloy, and includes four landing legs.
Propulsion
Peregrine has five pressure-fed hypergolic main engines and twelve RCS thrusters. Propellant is contained in four tanks (two each for fuel and oxidizer) with a fifth tank for high-pressure helium.
Electrical power
Electrical power provided by solar cells is stored in a lithium-ion battery. Solar panel configurations differ among landers, depending on the intended landing site.
Communication
The lander communicates with Earth ground stations using X-Band radio frequencies. The design includes multiple low gain antennas for use during cruise and lunar orbit operations and a higher gain antenna to communicate from the lunar surface.
Missions
Peregrine Mission One
Peregrine Lunar Lander flight 01, commonly referred to as Peregrine Mission One, was a failed American lunar lander mission. The lander, dubbed Peregrine, was built by Astrobotic Technology[6] and carried payloads for the NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. Peregrine Mission One launched on January 8, 2024, at 2:18 am EST, on the maiden flight of the Vulcan Centaur (Vulcan) rocket. The goal was to land the first U.S.-built lunar lander on the Moon since the crewed Apollo Lunar Module on Apollo 17 in 1972.
The lander carried multiple payloads, with a payload capacity of 90 kg.[7] Shortly after the lander separated from the Vulcan rocket in lunar injection orbit, a propellant leak developed that prevented the lander from completing its mission. After six days in orbit, the spacecraft was redirected into Earth's atmosphere, where it burned up in Earth's atmosphere over the South Pacific Ocean on January 18, 2024.[8]
References
- ↑ "NASA picks nine companies to compete for commercial lunar lander missions – Spaceflight Now". Retrieved 2026-07-05.
- ↑ "NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services Initiative - NASA OIG". 2024-06-06. Retrieved 2026-07-05.
- ↑ Foust, Jeff (2026-06-30). "NASA awards nearly $600 million in lunar lander missions". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2026-07-05.
- ↑ "Peregrine Lunar Lander | Astrobotic Technology". Astrobotic. Retrieved 2026-07-05.
- ↑ https://www.astrobotic.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/PUGLanders_011222.pdf
- ↑ Kenneth Chang (January 7, 2024). "Vulcan Rocket's Inaugural Launch Carries Moon Lander to Space – Here's what you need to know about United Launch Alliance and the robotic lunar spacecraft it is sending to orbit". The New York Times. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ "Peregrine Mission 1 (Astrobotic)". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. Archived from the original on December 4, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
- ↑ Jackie Wattles (January 19, 2024). "Astrobotic's Peregrine lunar lander burns up over Pacific Ocean". CNN. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.