Christmas Eve launch hopes to put US rocket on moon for first time in 50 years

A Christmas Eve rocket launch from Florida for a Pittsburgh space company hopes to put an American lander on the moon for the first time in 50 years.

Astrobotics’ unmanned Peregrine unmanned lander is slated to launch on the first flight for ULA’s Vulcan rocket. Liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is scheduled for Dec. 24 at 12:50 a.m.

With the current launch window, the landing could happen on Jan. 25. Peregrine will make a soft landing near the lunar volcanic region known as the Gruithuisen Domes. 

Astrobotic was among the 14 private companies selected by NASA under the agency’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program to deliver science to the moon ahead of the first Artemis astronaut missions to the lunar south pole in late 2025. In early 2024, Houston-based company Intuitive Machines will launch its Nova-C lander with SpaceX, also carrying NASA science to the moon. 

The lunar lander will also have time capsules as part of Astrobotic's DHL Moonbox program and a token from local amusement park Kennywood after Pittsburghers voted to send the item to the moon.

This will mark the first mission for Astrobotic and ULA’s Vulcan rocket. No private company has successfully landed on the moon before. 



(AP file photo)