Private US Moon Lander Destroyed During Reentry

January 20, 2024 4:34 am

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A U.S. company’s failed moonshot has ended with a fiery plunge over the South Pacific. Astrobotic Technology said Friday that it had confirmation that its lunar lander broke apart as it reentered Earth’s atmosphere on Thursday. A fuel leak shortly after liftoff from Florida last week had nixed any chance of a moon touchdown. The company took steps to destroy its crippled lander to protect other spacecraft. It was the first U.S. lunar lander in more than a half-century. The next one from a U.S. business is set to blast off next month.