A robotic spacecraft, carrying the remains of over 70 individuals, is anticipated to undergo incineration during its reentry into Earth’s atmosphere on Thursday.
The Peregrine mission, originally intended for the moon’s surface, faced doom within seven hours of its launch on January 8.
A propulsion system failure and subsequent fuel leakage sealed the fate of the mission, which aimed to be the first U.S. lunar landing in over 50 years.
Astrobotic, the company responsible for launching Peregrine, officially declared the mission’s failure on January 9, just a day after the launch.
Despite the propulsion leak, the company reaffirmed its decision on Sunday to allow the spacecraft to reenter Earth’s atmosphere, leading to the burning up of the craft and its deceased passengers, the Daily Beast reported.
The human remains, including those of science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke, were housed in capsules on the ill-fated robotic spacecraft bound for the moon.
They were meant to “remain on the lunar surface as a permanent tribute to the intrepid souls who never stopped reaching for the stars,” as Celestis, a memorial spaceflight company involved in the failed mission, says on its website.
Written by B.C. Begley
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B.C. Begley 