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.
The ambitious lunar mission of the Athena spacecraft, a collaborative endeavor between Astrobotic Technology, a private spaceflight company based in Pittsburgh, and NASA, has met a premature and unfortunate end. After a seemingly successful landing on the lunar surface within Lacus Mortis (the "Lake of Death"), a poetically ironic location considering the mission's outcome, the lander encountered a critical stability issue. Approximately 12 hours following touchdown, communication with the spacecraft ceased abruptly, leaving mission control in a state of uncertainty. Subsequent image analysis, painstakingly conducted using photographs captured by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, revealed the disheartening truth: Athena had toppled over. This catastrophic event effectively terminated the mission, preventing the deployment of its scientific payload and the commencement of planned research activities.
The primary objective of the Athena mission, a crucial component of NASA's broader Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, was to deliver a suite of scientific instruments to the lunar surface. These instruments were designed to investigate a range of lunar phenomena, including the Moon’s internal heat flow and its magnetic field, providing valuable insights into the Moon’s geological history and evolution. Additionally, Athena carried a technology demonstration payload, showcasing a laser retroreflector array intended to enhance future lunar navigation capabilities. The loss of Athena represents a significant setback not only for Astrobotic but also for NASA's CLPS program, which aims to leverage the innovation and cost-effectiveness of the private sector for lunar exploration. While the precise cause of Athena's instability remains under investigation, the incident underscores the inherent challenges and complexities of lunar landings and serves as a poignant reminder of the unforgiving nature of space exploration. The loss of this mission represents a considerable investment in both financial and human resources, highlighting the inherent risks involved in pushing the boundaries of scientific and technological advancement in the pursuit of lunar exploration. The incident is undoubtedly a significant learning opportunity for Astrobotic and the broader space community as they strive to refine and improve future lunar landing procedures and technologies.
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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.