Astrobotic Lunar Lander Testing Successful

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Astrobotic announced Wednesday that its Peregrine lunar lander has successfully completed its entire flight acceptance campaign and is ready to be shipped to Cape Canaveral, Fla., when it gets the green light from Astrobotic’s rocket provider, United Launch Alliance.

“Peregrine Mission One’s flight acceptance campaign was completed on schedule and exceeded expectations,” said Sharad Bhaskaran, Astrobotic’s PM1 mission director. “These tests ultimately proved the quality of Peregrine’s design and workmanship over the full assembly and integration campaign. Everyone worked diligently, even through holidays, for this incredible achievement.”

The final hurdle, thermal-vacuum testing, proved the spacecraft can survive and operate in the thermal and vacuum conditions of space, the company said in a news release. The spacecraft was subjected to extreme hot and cold temperatures in the thermal vacuum chamber to simulate conditions during its mission. All spacecraft components were functionally tested as well to demonstrate flight-like operations, the company said.

The spacecraft will be on public display at Astrobotic’s headquarters, 1016 N. Lincoln Ave., Pittsburgh, beginning Thursday. Visitors can view the spacecraft until United Launch Alliance is ready to receive it in Cape Canaveral.

Pictured at top: The Astrobotic team stands in front of the Peregrine spacecraft before thermal vacuum testing.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.