NASA’s Lunar Flashlight CubeSat mission was launched in December 2018 with the aim of exploring the moon’s south pole. The mission was designed to study the distribution of water ice on the lunar surface, which could be a valuable resource for future human exploration. However, the mission has now concluded prematurely after failing to enter the moon’s orbit.
The Lunar Flashlight CubeSat was a small spacecraft, weighing only 30 kilograms, and was equipped with a laser instrument that could detect water ice on the lunar surface. The spacecraft was launched as part of NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to send humans back to the moon by 2024.
The Lunar Flashlight CubeSat was launched along with several other spacecraft as part of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket’s first uncrewed test flight. The spacecraft was supposed to enter the moon’s orbit and begin its mission in early 2022. However, NASA announced on October 28, 2021, that the spacecraft had failed to enter the moon’s orbit and had concluded its mission prematurely.
According to NASA, the Lunar Flashlight CubeSat experienced a problem with its propulsion system, which prevented it from entering the moon’s orbit. The spacecraft was unable to correct its trajectory and was forced to conclude its mission early. NASA officials have stated that they are still investigating the cause of the propulsion system failure.
The failure of the Lunar Flashlight CubeSat mission is a setback for NASA’s Artemis program, which is already facing several challenges. The program has been criticized for its ambitious timeline and lack of funding, and the failure of the Lunar Flashlight CubeSat mission is likely to add to these concerns.
Despite the setback, NASA officials have stated that they remain committed to the Artemis program and are working to overcome the challenges it faces. The agency is currently planning several other missions to explore the moon’s south pole, including the VIPER rover mission, which is scheduled to launch in 2023.
In conclusion, the failure of NASA’s Lunar Flashlight CubeSat mission to enter the moon’s orbit and conclude prematurely is a setback for the agency’s Artemis program. The mission was designed to study the distribution of water ice on the lunar surface, which could be a valuable resource for future human exploration. However, NASA officials remain committed to the program and are working to overcome the challenges it faces. The agency is planning several other missions to explore the moon’s south pole, and it remains to be seen how successful these missions will be.
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- Source: https://zephyrnet.com/nasas-lunar-flashlight-cubesat-mission-ends-before-entering-orbit-around-moon/