Title: “The return of American lunar missions: the Vulcan Centaur rocket takes off from Florida”
Introduction :
For more than 50 years, the United States has not attempted to land on the Moon. But this situation is about to change, with the successful launch of the first American lunar mission from Cape Canaveral in Florida. On board the Vulcan Centaur rocket, developed by the industrial group ULA, is the Peregrine lander, designed by the start-up Astrobotic in partnership with NASA. This mission marks a turning point in American space exploration, which now relies on private companies to achieve its lunar objectives.
The lunar project: a public-private partnership to return to the Moon
NASA has entrusted Astrobotic with transporting scientific equipment to the Moon in a contract estimated at $108 million. This public-private partnership illustrates the American space agency’s desire to rely on the private sector for its future lunar missions. In the past, attempts by Israeli and Japanese companies to land on the moon have ended in failure. This time, it is the industrial group ULA, bringing together Boeing and Lockheed Martin, which took orders with its Vulcan Centaur rocket.
Mission progress: study of the composition of the lunar surface
About 50 minutes after takeoff, Peregrine must separate from the rocket and establish communication with Astrobotic. If everything goes as planned, the lander will continue its journey to the Moon. Once in lunar orbit, the probe will wait for the right lighting conditions to try to land near mysterious domes formed by lava. These formations intrigue scientists who hope to learn more about the composition of the lunar surface and radiation.
A controversy surrounding the mission
The mission also attracted controversy due to carrying ashes or DNA of deceased people, including Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry. This collaboration with the Celestis company, specializing in “commemorative spaceflights”, was criticized by the Navajo Native American tribe who consider it a desecration of a sacred place. Despite objections, the launch took place as planned.
Conclusion :
The launch of the Vulcan Centaur rocket and the Peregrine lander marks a key moment in the American quest to return to the lunar surface. By relying on public-private partnerships, NASA hopes to accelerate lunar missions and prepare for the return of astronauts to the Moon. This mission also ushers in a new era of space exploration, where private companies play a critical role in realizing humanity’s ambitious goals to discover the universe around us.