CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The first U.S. moon landing in more than 50 years was in jeopardy Monday after a private company’s newly launched spacecraft developed engine trouble.
Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic Technology raced to orient its lander toward the sun so the solar panel could collect sunlight, as battery power dwindled.
The problem arose about seven hours after Monday’s predawn liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket provided the lift for Astrobotic’s lander, named Peregrine, putting it on a long, roundabout path to the moon.
If the propulsion system is at fault, it “threatens the ability of the spacecraft to soft land on the moon” on Feb. 23, the company said in a statement.
“We continue to gather data and report our best assessment of what we see,” the company added.
Astrobotic was aiming to be the first private business…
