Cape Canaveral: A US company's lunar lander will soon burn up in Earth's atmosphere after its failed mission to the Moon. The spacecraft also carries the remains of two of science fiction's most famous characters.
Astrobotic Technology said its lander is now heading towards Earth from the vicinity of the moon.
Company officials expect the mission to end on Friday EST, with the vehicle scheduled to return to the Pacific Ocean, eastern Australia and northern New Zealand.
Peregrine's first mission returns to Earth.credit: Astrobotic
Astrobotic is working with NASA to track the lander's path, and said it should pose no safety risk during its fiery return.
The lander, named Peregrine, carries not only a Carnegie Mellon University rover and other privately sponsored research, but also the ashes and DNA of about 70 people, including the spacecraft's inventor. Star TrekAnd Gene Roddenberry and science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke, who wrote the book 2001: A space journey.
Arthur C. Clarke wrote the book “2001: A Space Odyssey,” which was made into a movie in 1968. credit: AP
The Peregrine lander lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, last Monday.
A fuel leak soon occurred, forcing Astrobotic to abandon its attempt to make the first moon landing in the United States in more than 50 years. The company suspects that a stuck valve caused the tank to rupture.
Astrobotic said it consulted with NASA and other government officials about how best to end the mission.
