Two private U.S. companies are gearing up to launch uncrewed spacecraft to the moon in early 2022, in a milestone effort that could mark the first soft landings for the United States on the lunar surface since the Apollo missions of the 1970s. Astrobotic and Intuitive Machines are both set to launch their spacecraft within weeks of each other and are vying for the historic distinction of becoming the first private venture to land on the moon.
The missions are part of NASA’s Artemis program, aiming to return astronauts to the moon. However, they are also part of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, which is focused on sending cargo and science experiments to the moon. NASA has allocated $2.6 billion in contracts over 10 years for these efforts, and the scheduled missions by Astrobotic and Intuitive Machines mark a significant milestone.
Astrobotic anticipates that its Peregrine spacecraft will touch down on the lunar surface on February 23, following a January 8 launch. Intuitive Machines plans to land its spacecraft approximately seven days after its mid-February launch. Both companies face the challenge of landing on the moon, which has proven to be a daunting task in the past.
Notably, other nations have recent milestones in lunar exploration, with Japan’s space agency and China achieving significant successes in sending spacecraft to the moon and landing missions. China, in particular, has made impressive progress with its lunar exploration activities, including the recent feat of landing a rover on the moon’s far side.
For NASA’s Artemis program, robotic landings are seen as crucial precursors to potential astronaut missions in the coming years. The space agency is also planning to send its first robotic rover, VIPER, to the moon on an Astrobotic spacecraft. VIPER will search for water in the form of ice near the lunar south pole.
The ambitious lunar missions by Astrobotic and Intuitive Machines signal the involvement of the commercial sector in space exploration, with NASA partnering with private companies to achieve these objectives. The competition and cooperation between these companies and space agencies are paving the way for a new chapter in lunar exploration.
As the United States aims to return to the moon and establish a sustained human presence there, the initiatives by these companies and the federal space agency hold great promise for further advancements in space exploration. The successful execution of these lunar missions will undoubtedly set the stage for continued efforts to explore and utilize the moon’s resources, marking a significant step forward in space exploration and commercial activities.