Two US Companies Attempt First Commercial Moon Landings Since Apollo Missions
Astrobotic Technology is up first with a planned liftoff of a lander Monday aboard United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket, while Houston's Intuitive Machines aims to launch a lander in mid-February. Japan will attempt to land in two weeks and if successful, it will become the fifth country to pull off a moon landing.
Scientists believe that permanently shadowed craters on the moon hold billions of pounds (kilograms) of frozen water, which could be used for drinking and making rocket fuel. NASA is preparing for these commercial lunar landers as part of its effort to kick-start commercial moon deliveries while focusing on getting astronauts back there.
The Peregrine Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer developed by Milton Keynes University scientist Simeon Barber will be the first instrument from the UK and Europe to land on the Moon. The device works like a weighing machine for atoms or molecules in the moon's atmosphere, which could help scientists understand atmospheres on airless bodies and aid future human missions to Mars.
The primary payload of Cert-1 is Peregrine, a commercial lunar lander developed by Astrobotic Technology under NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. The mission aims to study water cycles and see if water can be extracted from the orb in future missions.
The United States is set to attempt its first moon landings since the Apollo missions a half-century ago.
Two private companies, Astrobotic Technology and Houston's Intuitive Machines, are hustling to get the U.S. back in the game with plans for commercial lunar landers carrying agency-sponsored payloads.
The United States is set to attempt its first moon landings since the Apollo missions a half-century ago. Two private companies, Astrobotic Technology and Houston's Intuitive Machines, are hustling to get the U.S. back in the game with plans for commercial lunar landers carrying agency-sponsored payloads.
Astrobotic Technology is up first with a planned liftoff of a lander Monday aboard United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket, while Houston's Intuitive Machines aims to launch a lander in mid-February. Japan will attempt to land in two weeks and if successful, it will become the fifth country to pull off a moon landing.
The primary payload of Cert-1 is Peregrine, a commercial lunar lander developed by Astrobotic Technology under NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. The mission aims to study water cycles and see if water can be extracted from the orb in future missions.
Scientists believe that permanently shadowed craters on the moon hold billions of pounds (kilograms) of frozen water, which could be used for drinking and making rocket fuel. NASA is preparing for these commercial lunar landers as part of its effort to kick-start commercial moon deliveries while focusing on getting astronauts back there.
The Peregrine Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer developed by Milton Keynes University scientist Simeon Barber will be the first instrument from the UK and Europe to land on the Moon. The device works like a weighing machine for atoms or molecules in the moon's atmosphere, which could help scientists understand atmospheres on airless bodies and aid future human missions to Mars.
Two private companies are hustling to get the U.S. back in the game, more than five decades after the Apollo program ended.
Astrobotic Technology is up first with a planned liftoff of a lander Monday aboard United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket.
Houston's Intuitive Machines aims to launch a lander in mid-February, hopping a flight with SpaceX.
Japan will attempt to land in two weeks. The Japanese Space Agency’s lander has already launched and is sharing an X-ray telescope that stayed behind in orbit around Earth.
Accuracy
China has landed three times in the past decade including on the moon’s far side last year and is returning to the far side later this year to bring back lunar samples.
India did it near the south polar region a few days later; it was their second try after crashing in 2019.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that only the US has put astronauts on the moon which is not true as India and China have also done so. Secondly, it implies that these private companies are attempting to land gently on the moon when in reality they will be landing using thrusters and navigating past treacherous cliffs and craters. Thirdly, it states that Intuitive Machines has a faster, more direct shot and should land within a week of liftoff which is not true as Astrobotic's mission takes two weeks just to get to the moon. Lastly, it implies that these companies are vying for bragging rights as the first private entity to land on the moon when in reality they are both competing for funding from NASA.
The article states that only the US has put astronauts on the moon which is not true. For example, India and China have also landed rovers on the moon.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that NASA is supporting the commercial moon deliveries and quoting Bill Nelson as saying that these companies are scouts going ahead of them. This statement implies that NASA's endorsement lends credibility to the private companies, which is not necessarily true. Additionally, the article contains a false dilemma fallacy by stating that only two private companies are attempting moon landings and implying that they must be vying for bragging rights as the first to do so. This statement ignores other countries' efforts in space exploration and implies that these two companies are competing against each other, which is not necessarily true.
The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that NASA is supporting commercial moon deliveries and quoting Bill Nelson as saying that these companies are scouts going ahead of them. This statement implies that NASA's endorsement lends credibility to the private companies, which is not necessarily true.
The article contains a false dilemma fallacy by stating that only two private companies are attempting moon landings and implying that they must be vying for bragging rights as the first to do so. This statement ignores other countries' efforts in space exploration and implies that these two companies are competing against each other, which is not necessarily true.
NASA instruments set to fly on Peregrine commercial lunar lander
Peregrine will carry 20 payloads, including five instruments from NASA under a CLPS award made in 2019
Three of the instruments working together may help us better understand how water molecules migrate and possibly end up at the cold lunar poles
Commercial lunar landers are a new industry and everyone is learning how to set up commercial launches over the last few years
Accuracy
NASA had planned to fly up to 10 instruments on Peregrine but removed five of them due to issues with the performance of the lander and descent engines available for it
The Navajo Nation has expressed concerns about placing human remains on the moon as it views this act as desecration, but NASA said that they will consult with them before any future missions
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that NASA has removed five instruments from Peregrine due to issues with performance of the lander and descent engines available for it. However, this information was not disclosed by NASA until after a successful launch of another commercial lunar lander carrying similar payloads. This suggests that there may have been other reasons for removing those experiments which were not mentioned in the article.
The author claims that NASA removed five instruments from Peregrine due to issues with performance of the lander and descent engines available for it. However, this information was not disclosed by NASA until after a successful launch of another commercial lunar lander carrying similar payloads.
Fallacies
(75%)
The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing NASA officials and experts without providing any evidence or context for their claims. Additionally, the author uses inflammatory rhetoric when discussing the Navajo Nation's concerns about placing human remains on the moon.
The article contains several examples of informal fallacies.
Bias
(85%)
The article contains examples of bias in the form of political and religious bias. The author uses language that dehumanizes those who hold different beliefs about water on the moon's surface. Additionally, there is a lack of diversity in perspectives presented in the article.
Commercial lunar landers “is a totally new industry, and it is an industry where everyone is learning as we have set this up over the last few years,” Kearns added.
It could also detect sulfur at this landing site,” citing the detection of sulfur by India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission last year at a latitude of about 70 degrees south.
NASA did receive a letter from Navajo Nation requesting a “tribal consultation” about those payloads.
The president of Navajo Nation, Buu Nygren, said last month he asked NASA to delay the launch because of those payloads.
Three of the instruments working together, he said “may help us better understand how water molecules migrate and possibly end up at the cold lunar poles.”
WASHINGTON — As NASA prepares for the first launch of a commercial lunar lander carrying agency-sponsored payloads, it is trying to balance the science it can achieve with the challenges of landing on the moon and other emerging concerns.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Jeff Foust has conflicts of interest on the topics of NASA and commercial lunar landers. He mentions Peregrine Commercial Lunar Lander in his article which is a company he covers regularly.
Peregrine Commercial Lunar Lander
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Jeff Foust has conflicts of interest on the topics of NASA and commercial lunar landers. He mentions Peregrine Commercial Lunar Lander in his article which is a company that he writes about frequently.
Department of Transportation (DOT) including Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Joel Kearns, deputy associate administrator for exploration in NASA Science Mission Directorate
Milton Keynes university scientist has fingers crossed for moon mission
Scientists believe the south pole's permanently shadowed craters hold billions of pounds (kilograms) of frozen water that could be used for drinking and making rocket fuel.
NASA is preparing for the first launch of a commercial lunar lander carrying agency-sponsored payloads
The primary payload of Cert-1 is Peregrine, a commercial lunar lander developed by Astrobotic
If successful, Japan will become the fifth country to pull off a moon landing.
Astrobotic Technology is up first with a planned liftoff of a lander Monday aboard United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket.
Houston’s Intuitive Machines aims to launch a lander in mid-February, hopping on SpaceX.
Accuracy
The spectrometer is the first instrument from the UK and Europe to land on the Moon.
If launched, data will arrive on 23 February and will be watched by scientists in Maryland.
'the lunar molecules bounce around inside our box'
Peregrine Mission One aims to study lunar water cycles and see if water can be extracted from the orb in future.
If successful, Japan will become the fifth country to pull off a lunar landing.
'the south pole's permanently shadowed craters hold billions of pounds (kilograms) of frozen water that could be used for drinking and making rocket fuel. That's why NASA still has 2025 on the book for a launch to land there but it is suspected it will be closer to 2027.
<span style=
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that Simeon Barber developed a spectrometer to study water on the moon when it was actually designed for studying lunar molecules bouncing around inside a box. Secondly, the author states that this instrument will be used to extract water from the orb in future human missions but there is no evidence of such plans mentioned anywhere else. Lastly, while Simeon Barber mentions that he hopes for good weather so a trip to the satellite can take place next week, it's not clear if this mission has already been launched or not.
The spectrometer was designed for studying lunar molecules bouncing around inside a box.
This instrument will be used to extract water from the orb in future human missions but there is no evidence of such plans mentioned anywhere else.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by stating that the Peregrine Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer is a first instrument from the UK and Europe to land on the Moon. This statement implies that it has some sort of special significance or importance without providing any evidence for this claim.
The Peregrine Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer is a first instrument from the UK and Europe to land on the Moon.
Bias
(10%)
The article is biased towards the success of a UK scientist who developed an instrument to study water on the moon. The author uses quotes from Simeon Barber that praise his work and express excitement about future human missions to the moon.
If we want to put humans back on the moon and have an extended stay it means we're going to need to provide them with drinking water and water for sanitation. In theory, we could begin extracting water from the moon and use it in situ.
"I'll be in Milton Keynes on Monday with my fingers crossed,"
Δm from the UK Space Agency㰾uros space agency membership funding.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
The author has multiple conflicts of interest on the topics provided. The article mentions that Simeon Barber is a professor at Milton Keynes University and was involved in designing the Peregrine Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer used for lunar water cycles research. Additionally, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Science Technology Facilities Council (STFC) are mentioned as being involved in the mission to extract water from the moon. The author also mentions that Milton Keynes University is a partner on Peregrine Mission One.
Two private companies are hustling to get the U.S. back in the game
Astrobotic Technology is up first with a planned liftoff of a lander Monday aboard United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket.
Houston's Intuitive Machines aims to launch a lander in mid-February, hopping a flight with SpaceX.
Japan will attempt to land in two weeks
If successful, Japan will become the fifth country to pull off a lunar landing
China has landed three times including on the moon's far side — and is returning to the far side later this year to bring back lunar samples.
India did it last summer near the south polar region; it was their second try after crashing in 2019
An Israeli nonprofit also slammed into the moon in 2019
The United States has not attempted a moon landing since Apollo 17’s Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt explored the gray, dusty surface of the moon in December 1972.
Mars beckoned and the moon receded in NASA's rearview mirror as they followed with a handful or two of lunar satellites until now
Astrobotic's four-legged, six-foot tall lander named Peregrine will carry research packages to the moon for seven countries including five for NASA and a shoebox sized rover for Carnegie Mellon University.
Intuitive Machines's six-legged, fourteen feet tall lander Nova-C will target the moon's south polar region carrying experiments for NASA that will last about two weeks
Scientists believe the south pole's permanently shadowed craters hold billions of pounds (kilograms) of frozen water that could be used for drinking and making rocket fuel.
Astrobotic will head to the south pole on its second flight carrying NASA's water-seeking Viper rover. And Intuitive Machines will return there on its second mission delivering an ice drill for NASA.
Landing near the moon's south pole is particularly dicey as it's so rocky and craggy full of craters at the south pole, mountainous that it's very difficult to find a lighted region to touch down safely.
Accuracy
Astrobotic Technology is up first with a planned liftoff of a lander Monday aboard United Launch Alliance's Vulcan.
Houston's Intuitive Machines aims to launch a lander in mid-February
Japan will attempt to land in two weeks. The Japanese Space Agency's lander has already launched and is sharing an X-ray telescope that stayed behind in orbit around Earth.
Astrobotic's four-legged, six-foot tall (1.9meter) lander named Peregrine will carry 20 research packages to the moon
Intuitive Machines's six-legged, fourteen feet tall (4meter) lander Nova-C will target the moon's south polar region carrying five experiments for NASA that will last about two weeks.
Scientists believe the south pole's permanently shadowed craters hold billions of pounds (kilograms) of frozen water
Astrobotic and Intuitive Machines are vying for bragging rights as the first private entity to land gently on the moon.
Despite its later start, Intuative Machines has a faster, more direct shot and should land within a week of liftoff. Astrobotic will take two weeks just to get there
If rocket delays stall both missions either company could wind up there first.
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that only the US has put astronauts on the moon which is not true as India and China have also done so. Secondly, it implies that landing without wreckage is easy when in fact it's a challenging task with no atmosphere to slow spacecraft and parachutes won't work. Thirdly, it states that Astrobotic will take two weeks just to get to the moon which is not accurate as they plan on landing within 23 days of launching. Lastly, the article uses sensationalism by stating that this is a 'wild wild ride' and implies a race between private companies when in fact NASA has contracted with multiple companies for lunar delivery services.
The statement
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said something without providing any evidence or context for his statement. Additionally, the author uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the competition between private companies and China in landing on the moon.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson stated that these two private companies are scouts going to the moon ahead of us.
Bias
(85%)
The article contains examples of monetary bias. The author mentions the financial support provided by NASA to private companies for moon deliveries and landing missions. This suggests that there is a significant amount of money at stake in these endeavors, which could influence the decisions made by both public and private entities involved.
Intuitive Machines also received funding from NASA to develop a lander for moon deliveries.
The article mentions that Astrobotic Technology received nearly $80 million from NASA for its lunar delivery services.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The article reports on the first US moon landings since the Apollo missions and mentions several topics that may have conflicts of interest. The site is owned by Marcia Dunn who has a personal relationship with NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, which could affect their objectivity. Additionally, both Astrobotic Technology and Intuitive Machines are competing for bragging rights as the first private entity to land gently on the moon, which could compromise their ability to act impartially. The article does not disclose these potential conflicts of interest.
Astrobotic Technology and Intuitive Machines are competing for bragging rights as the first private entity to land gently on the moon, which could affect their objectivity in reporting on each other's missions.
Marcia Dunn is a friend of NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and may be more likely to write favorably about his agency's efforts.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a financial interest in the topic of commercial moon deliveries as they are reporting on NASA-supported efforts to kick-start commercial moon deliveries. They also have a professional affiliation with private companies in the space industry.
NASA still has 2025 on the books for a launch to land near the moon's south pole, but GAO suspects it will be closer to 2027
Nova-C lander by Intuitive Machines, targeting the moon's south polar region.
Peregrine lander by Astrobotic Technology, named after the fastest bird, a falcon.
