Business Insider reports that "The first US moon lander in more than 50 years launched with human remains on board, paving the way for space burials."
If it succeeds, Peregrine will also be the first US mission in more than 50 years to complete a lunar touchdown and could pave the way for commercial space services, such as lunar burials.
"This is the moment we've been waiting for 16 years," John Thornton, CEO of Astrobiotic, the company behind the lander, said after the launch. "We are on our way to the moon."
The Vulcan Centaur rocket, developed by United Launch Alliance, blasted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at around 2 a.m. ET.
The lander is planned to touch down on the lunar surface on February 23, although the article doesn't expressly state why it will take so long. It may be because of the number and variety of payloads. The article relates that "[t]he commercial mission is carrying more than 20 payloads, including five scientific missions from NASA and some more unconventional items like human DNA and cremated remains." "The remains and DNA brought on the rocket include Gene Roddenberry, Star Trek's creator, and actors who played in the show, including Roddenberry's wife Majel Barrett," states the article, while "NASA's payload on board also includes instruments that will set out to measure water molecules on the moon, as well as radiation, and gases around the lander."
More:
- "Next stop, the MOON: First US lunar lander since Apollo launches towards our lunar satellite - marking a giant leap in the private space race"--Daily Mail.
- "Peregrine mission, to launch Monday, will aid humans' return to moon"--UPI.
- "Navajo Nation demands NASA stop launch bringing human remains to the moon"--Fox News.
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