Fuel leak forces US company to abandon moon landing attempt
A crippling fuel leak has forced a U.S. company to give up on landing a spacecraft on the moon
By MARCIA DUNN
Published - Jan 09, 2024, 01:27 PM ET
Last Updated - Jan 09, 2024, 01:27 PM EST
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A crippling fuel leak forced a U.S. company on Tuesday to give up on landing a spacecraft on the moon.
Astrobotic Technology’s lander began losing fuel soon after Monday’s launch. The spacecraft also encountered problems keeping its solar panel pointed towards the sun and generating solar power.
“Given the propellant leak, there is, unfortunately, no chance of a soft landing on the moon,” Astrobotic said in a statement.
Astrobotic had been targeting a lunar landing on Feb. 23, following a roundabout, fuel-efficient flight to the moon. It could have been the first U.S. moon landing in more than 50 years, and the first by a private company. A second lander from a Houston company is due to launch next month.
