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Astrobotic has presented the Griffin-1 robotic lunar lander for the NASA Moon Base II mission. The spacecraft is described as part of the initial phase of the space agency’s broader efforts to develop a sustained lunar outpost. According to current plans, Astrobotic intends to launch the Griffin Mission One (Griffin-1) in late 2026. The mission is expected to use a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. Under the contract, the lander is intended to deliver several scientific instruments to the lunar surface as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. The payload is planned to include the FLIP (Flex Lunar Innovation Platform) rover, developed by Astrolab.
“This is the first infrastructure-class lander to be sent to the lunar surface,” says Astrobotic CEO John Thornton. “This lander will become one of the key components in the development of a lunar base, so I am very pleased it is here today, and I wish it a safe journey to JPL [NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory], where it will undergo environmental testing.”
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A number of payloads have already been installed on the lander. These include Astrobotic’s BEACON CubeRover, developed in cooperation with Astrobotic and Mission Control Space Services, as well as the LandCam-X system developed by specialists at the European Space Agency. The system is intended to improve the precision and reliability of lunar landings during future missions.
Next week, Griffin-1 is scheduled to be delivered to the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California for testing. After that, the spacecraft will be transported to Florida, where the FLIP rover will be integrated prior to launch.
This mission represents the second attempt by Astrobotic to reach the Moon. The first attempt, carried out in January 2024, involved the smaller Peregrine lander. Shortly after launch, Peregrine experienced a fuel leak, and the spacecraft was unable to reach its intended destination.
In addition to being the company’s first mission, Peregrine was also the first flight under NASA’s CLPS program. Through CLPS, NASA collaborates with commercial companies that provide landers to deliver technology demonstrations and other payloads to the lunar surface. The CLPS program supports the Artemis program, under which the agency plans to establish a lunar base and enable a sustained human presence on the Moon. Recently, NASA selected four astronauts for the Artemis III mission.
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Source: space