NASA’s first United States commercial robotic flight to launch no earlier than December 24

NASA is planning to launch the first United States commercial robotic flight, the Astrobotic, United Space Alliance’s (ULA) Robotic Artemis mission to the lunar surface, no earlier than December 24, 2023. According to the latest reports, the commercial robotic mission will head for the Moon no earlier than December 24 from the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA took to the social media platform X and updated about the same today.

MEDIA: A commercial robotic mission carrying NASA science will head to the Moon no earlier than Dec. 24 from @NASAKennedy.

Apply to attend the launch of Astrobotic’s Peregrine Mission One, a part of our Commercial Lunar Payload Services program: https://t.co/qNt7hFz9Bc pic.twitter.com/6XOaUYssCM

— NASA (@NASA) November 6, 2023

NASA is also inviting media to the first Astrobotic, ULA Robotic Artemis Moon Launch. Interested Media persons, who want to participate in person can apply here. It is to be noted that interested international media participants have to apply by 9 November 2023. On the other hand, U.S. media participants have to apply by 8 November 2023.

The media prelaunch and launch activities will be organized at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

NASA earlier updated about this in one of their news releases on November 3, 2023

The Astrobotic, ULA Robotic Artemis Moon Launch:

• The Astrobotic will carry NASA and commercial payloads.
• It will launch the Peregrine lander on the ULA Vulcan rocket from the Space Launch Complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
• The Astrobotic’s Peregrine Mission One is supposed to land on the lunar surface in early 2024.
• The NASA payloads to be carried on the mission are meant to help the agency enhance the capabilities needed to explore the Moon as part of the Artemis mission, before sending astronauts.