NEW YORK, Nov 30: Half a century after the last Apollo mission, the United States is set to attempt another lunar landing on January 25, as announced by the CEO of Astrobotic, potentially marking the first successful private company touchdown on the lunar surface.

The unmanned lander, Peregrine, developed by Astrobotic, will carry NASA instruments to study the lunar environment in preparation for NASA's Artemis manned missions. Several years ago, NASA initiated the CLPS program, commissioning US companies for scientific experiments and lunar technologies, offering fixed-price contracts to encourage lunar economic development and cost-effective transport services.

Astrobotic's CEO, John Thornton, emphasized the challenge of achieving lunar launch and landing at a fraction of traditional costs during a press briefing in Pittsburgh, acknowledging the historical risk of lunar missions. The inaugural flight of the Vulcan Centaur rocket from the ULA industrial group is scheduled for takeoff on December 24 from Florida, with Peregrine reaching lunar orbit a few days later.

The autonomous descent, monitored from Astrobotic's control center, is planned for January 25, ensuring optimal light conditions at the target location. Despite the inherent challenges, this mission contributes to NASA's broader Artemis program, aligning with the vision to establish a lunar base. Alongside Astrobotic, NASA has signed contracts with other companies like Firefly Aerospace, Draper, and Intuitive Machines, each playing a role in advancing lunar exploration and supporting the establishment of a lunar economy.