The Astrobotic Technology's Peregrine lunar lander mission, carrying NASA's Athena scientific payload, failed after a propellant leak shortly after launch. The spacecraft lost control and ultimately tipped over on the lunar surface, ending any hope of deploying its instruments designed to study the moon's exosphere and surface composition. While Peregrine did achieve lunar orbit, the mission is considered a loss for NASA and its partners, marking a setback for commercial lunar exploration efforts.
NASA has successfully demonstrated the ability to receive GPS signals at the Moon, a first for navigating beyond Earth’s orbit. The Navigation Doppler Lidar for Space (NDLS) experiment aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) locked onto GPS signals and determined LRO’s position, paving the way for more reliable and autonomous navigation for future lunar missions. This achievement reduces reliance on Earth-based tracking and allows spacecraft to more accurately pinpoint their location, enabling more efficient and flexible operations in lunar orbit and beyond.
Several commenters on Hacker News expressed skepticism about the value of this achievement, questioning the practical applications and cost-effectiveness of using GPS around the Moon. Some suggested alternative navigation methods, such as star trackers or inertial systems, might be more suitable. Others pointed out the limitations of GPS accuracy at such distances, especially given the moon's unique gravitational environment. A few commenters highlighted the potential benefits, including simplified navigation for lunar missions and improved understanding of GPS signal behavior in extreme environments. Some debated the reasons behind NASA's pursuit of this technology, speculating about potential future applications like lunar infrastructure development or deep space navigation. There was also discussion about the technical challenges involved in acquiring and processing weak GPS signals at such a distance.
Summary of Comments ( 229 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43292471
HN commenters express disappointment at the loss of Athena, with some questioning the wisdom of not designing the lander for such a contingency. Several point out the difficulty and expense of space missions, highlighting that failure is an inherent risk. One commenter notes the irony of the lander's name, Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, being associated with such a seemingly avoidable mishap. Others discuss the possibility of a future mission salvaging usable components from Athena, though this is considered unlikely. Some speculate about the root cause of the tipping, suggesting issues with the landing site or deployment mechanisms. A few lament the broader lack of investment in space exploration, while others emphasize the importance of learning from these failures for future endeavors.
The Hacker News post titled "Athena spacecraft declared dead after toppling over on the moon" has generated several comments discussing the failed mission. Many commenters express disappointment at the loss of the spacecraft and the scientific potential it held.
Several commenters focus on the apparent cause of the failure: Athena toppling over after landing. Some question the robustness of the landing system's design, particularly given the known challenges of lunar landings. One commenter speculates about the possibility of unforeseen terrain irregularities contributing to the instability. Another highlights the difficulty of remote diagnostics in such situations, making it hard to pinpoint the precise cause of the toppling.
There's a discussion about the financial implications of the mission failure. Commenters lament the wasted resources and the setback this represents for lunar exploration efforts. Some discuss the broader context of space exploration funding and the inherent risks involved in these ventures.
A few commenters delve into the technical aspects of the mission, discussing the spacecraft's intended purpose and the scientific data it was supposed to gather. They express regret at the loss of this potential scientific knowledge.
The overall sentiment in the comments is one of disappointment and frustration, mixed with a degree of resignation to the inherent risks of space exploration. There is a sense of lost opportunity, both scientifically and financially. While some commenters express hope for future missions, others seem more pessimistic about the prospects for near-term lunar exploration.