Launched on December 11, the water-hunting probe is on a four-month trek to the Moon, but the mission is encountering some obstacles along the way.
also expected to test a more environmentally-friendly propellant.team first noticed reduced thrust. Ground tests suggests the issue isobstructions in the spacecraft’s fuel lines. Since Lunar Flashlight fires its thrusters in short bursts, mission scientists are planning to operate the thrusters for longer durations in an attempt to
clear the fuel lines. The spacecraft still needs to perform a series of trajectory correction maneuvers to reach its intended orbit around the Moon.“In case the propulsion system can’t be restored to full performance, the mission team is drawing up alternative plans to accomplish those maneuvers using the propulsion system with its current reduced-thrust capability,” NASA-JPL wrote
. “Lunar Flashlight will need to perform daily trajectory correction maneuvers starting in early February to reach lunar orbit about four months from now.”month journey to the Moon, making these issues with its thrusters all the more perilous. The spacecraft is powered by a more “green” propellant called a monopropellant. Mit safer to transport over the more commonly used hydrazine, NASA says.
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