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Doomed $108 million NASA-backed Peregrine One will crash back down to Earth TODAY - these are the potential impact zones
[Daily Mail, Where America Gets Its News] After more than a week in space, the doomed Peregrine One spacecraft is set to crash back down to Earth today. At around 4pm EST (9pm GMT) on Thursday, the craft is expected to hit an uninhabited region the South Pacific Ocean, about 400 miles south of Fiji. Astrobotic, the Pittsburgh firm that developed the lander with the backing of NASA, said it is working to ensure a safe re-entry that doesn't hit land. Launched from Florida on January 8, Peregrine One was intended to land on the moon, but the mission soon became doomed due to a propellant leak. Peregrine One was supposed to serve as a scout for the NASA's Artemis astronauts before they make their own moon landing in 2026. Under a $108 million contract with NASA, the 1.2-ton lander is carrying 20 payloads including science instruments and DNA samples from US presidents John F Kennedy, Dwight D Eisenhower, and George Washington. The lander also holds the remains of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, alongside the ashes of around 60 other individuals that were set to be dropped on the lunar surface. Posted by: Skidmark 2024-01-18 |
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