A private lunar lander that took off on Monday from the United States has developed an in-flight anomaly, according to Astrobotic Technology, the US company that developed it.
Astrobotic said on X (formerly Twitter) that "a failure within the propulsion system" of the lander, dubbed the 'Peregrine' was causing "a critical loss of propellant."
"The team is working to try and stabilise this loss, but given the situation, we have prioritised maximising the science and data we can capture," the US company added.
The anomaly has prevented the Peregrine from placing itself in a position facing the sun, the start-up said. This has prevented it from charging its batteries.
The lunar lander, the first US device attempting a moon landing in over 50 years, incorporates solar panels. These need to point towards the sun to enable maximum electricity production, according to the corporation’s documents.
Astrobotic said it was now assessing "what alternative mission profiles may be feasible at this time."
