Pittsburgh built lunar lander on its way to the moon

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — For the first time in more than 50 years, the United States is headed back to the moon and a Pittsburgh company is leading the way.

Astrobotic Technology’s lunar lander, known as Peregrine, lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida overnight and headed into space aboard a United Launch Alliance “Vulcan” rocket.

“Today Peregrine Mission One achieved a number of big milestones,” John Thornton, CEO of Astrobotic, said in a news release. “Peregrine powered on, acquired a signal with Earth, and is now moving through space on its way to the Moon. These successes bring us one step closer to seven nations landing on the Moon, six of which have never been to the Moon before.”

The Peregrine lunar lander was designed and built here in Pittsburgh and includes parts manufactured by hundreds of suppliers from across the country, including 184 companies in Pennsylvania alone.

The lander is carrying 20 payloads from seven countries and 16 companies.

Also included in the payload delivery is a moon rover named Iris, built by students at CMU, as well as a memento paying tribute to Astrobotic’s home city.

“[It’s] actually a coin from Kennywood so there’s a small coin that’s going to be sent up to the surface that represents the token of Pittsburgh, Thorton told Channel 11 last week.

That token will remain on the moon forever, making Pittsburgh’s impact on space permanent.

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“Astrobotic would like to thank its suppliers, customers, sponsors, supporters, and 250-employee team, who have worked tirelessly for years to make this moment possible,” Thornton said.

Peregrine will not get to the moon until February 23.

Astrobotic is aiming to be the first private business to successfully land on the moon, something only four countries have accomplished.

The last time the U.S. launched a moon-landing mission was in December 1972. Apollo 17′s Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt became the 11th and 12th men to walk on the moon, closing out an era that has remained NASA’s pinnacle.

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