Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic working through "critical loss of propellant" after lunar lander launches

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fl. (KDKA/AP) -- The first U.S. moon landing mission in decades blasted off from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station just after 2:15 a.m. on Monday, but Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic's mission is in jeopardy after it developed a critical fuel leak just hours after its launch. 

Astrobotic Technology managed to orient its lander toward the sun so the solar panel could collect sunlight and charge its battery, as a special team assessed the status of what was termed "a failure in the propulsion system."

It soon became apparent, however, that there was "a critical loss of fuel," further dimming hope for what had been a planned moon landing on Feb. 23.

"We are currently assessing what alternative mission profiles may be feasible at this time," the company said in a statement.

The problem was reported about seven hours after liftoff. United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket provided the lift for Astrobotic's lander, named Peregrine, putting it on a long, roundabout path to the moon.

A propulsion system problem "threatens the ability of the spacecraft to soft land on the moon," the company said. The lander is equipped with engines and thrusters for maneuvering, not only during the cruise to the moon but for lunar descent.

In a later update, Astrobotic said the goal is to "get Peregrine as close to lunar distance as we can before it loses the ability to maintain its sun-pointing position and subsequently loses power."

There has been some good news, though, as Astrobotic shared the first image from Peregrine in space. 

The camera is mounted on a payload deck and shows multi-layer insulation in the foreground, and the disturbance of the MLI is the first clue that aligns with data pointing to a propulsion system anomaly, Astrobotic said.  

Astrobotic said it received the first image from space. The battery is fully charged and they're using the rest of Peregrine's existing power to perform as many payload and spacecraft operations as possible.

"Nonetheless, the spacecraft's battery is now fully charged, and we are using Peregrine's existing power to perform as many payload and spacecraft operations as possible." 

The rocket is also taking Carnegie Mellon University's Iris lunar rover to the moon. 

"Oh my God, Iris is on that rocket and headed to the moon is a very surreal feeling," said navigation lead Tejas S. Venkatesh.

"Watching it go up in the rocket was unbelievable, it still doesn't feel real," said mapping software lead Madhav Gajula. 

When it comes to space exploration, team members say nothing is guaranteed. So for now, Iris team members watch and wait to find out the lander and Iris' fate. 

"No matter what happens, this is only the beginning for Carnegie Mellon, for the United States and really for the world. A new golden age of space exploration. I think the next step being the moon, and then we go to Mars, and then it's beyond," said Iris science lead Zach Muraskin. 

Astrobotic launches Peregrine lunar lander

The United Launch Alliance launched the Vulcan Centaur rocket at 2:18 a.m. It's the first lunar landing mission from the United States since 1972. 

Astrobotic's first lunar lander, called Peregrine, is on board and contains a rover named Iris, which was developed by a team at Carnegie Mellon University. 

"Today Peregrine Mission One achieved a number of big milestones," said John Thornton, CEO of Astrobotic. "Peregrine powered on, acquired a signal with Earth, and is now moving through space on its way to the Moon. These successes bring us one step closer to seven nations landing on the Moon, six of which have never been to the Moon before."     

It will be the first university-developed, student-led rover on the moon.

The overnight mission launch capped off more than a decade of work and two delays of the launch in May and in December. 

The lander will deliver science instruments to the moon for international space agencies, NASA and customers like the university.

It will take at least 30 days for Peregrine to land, which is expected to take place on Feb. 23. That's when the real work starts for the CMU team. 

"We have 20 to 60 hours to take that golden opportunity that we've been given and turn it into something that's hopefully helpful for any other future missions," said Nikolai Stefanov, mission control lead for Iris and fifth year undergraduate student at Carnegie Mellon.

The team will be racing the clock before the battery dies and hopes their work will help with future research in space.

WATCH: Astrobotic's lunar lander headed to the moon

The company aims to be the first private business to successfully land on the moon, something only four countries have accomplished. But a Houston company also has a lander ready to fly, and could beat it to the lunar surface, taking a more direct path.

NASA gave the two companies millions to build and fly their own lunar landers. The space agency wants the privately owned landers to scope out the place before astronauts arrive while delivering tech and science experiments for NASA, other countries and universities as well as odds and ends for other customers. Astrobotic's contract for the Peregrine lander: $108 million.

When it all comes to an end, Astrobotic hopes the rover will remain on the surface of the moon for the rest of time and are even considering driving it as far away from the lander as possible. 

Pennsylvania officials react to Astrobotic lunar lander launch

Newly-sworn-in Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato was in Cape Canaveral for the launch.

"I was honored to be in Florida for Astrobotic's Peregrine Mission One successful launch this morning. Seeing the culmination of so many years of work of this employee-owned, Pittsburgh-based company was inspiring," she said. "The Peregrine Mission One represents one of the first U.S. lunar landings in more than 50 years, and I love that Pittsburgh is leading the way in the next era of space science, exploration, and commerce. I look forward to hearing updates from the Pittsburgh-based mission control and want to congratulate everyone on the team for this incredible achievement."    

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro also applauded the launch.

"Pennsylvania is headed to the moon  — and I'm proud my Administration played a part in this historic launch, investing in Astrobotic to spur innovation, create jobs, and grow our Commonwealth's economy," he said. "We will continue to support and invest in the Commonwealth's existing high-tech businesses like Astrobotic, as well as other innovative companies looking to come Pennsylvania. We're working to make Pennsylvania a true hub of innovation, and today's historic lunar lander mission is a major achievement that shows how Pennsylvania are leading the way."

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