Nov. 3, 2023
MEDIA ADVISORY:
M23-136
NASA Invites Media to First
Astrobotic, ULA Robotic Artemis Moon Launch
The first United States commercial robotic landing on the Moon’s surface as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative and Artemis program are scheduled to
occur in early 2024.
Credit: NASA/LRO
Media accreditation is open for the first United States commercial robotic flight to the Moon’s surface as part of NASA’s CLPS (Commercial
Lunar Payload Services) initiative and Artemis program.
Carrying NASA and commercial payloads, Astrobotic will launch its Peregrine lander on United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Vulcan rocket no earlier than Sunday,
Dec. 24, from Space Launch Complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This is the inaugural launch of ULA’s new Vulcan rocket.
Astrobotic’s
Peregrine Mission One will
land on the Moon in early 2024. The
NASA payloads aboard the lunar lander aim to help the agency develop capabilities needed to explore
the Moon under Artemis ahead of sending astronauts to the lunar surface.
Media prelaunch and launch activities will take place at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Attendance for this launch is open to U.S. citizens
and international media. U.S. media must apply by Friday, Dec. 8, and international media must apply by Thursday, Nov. 9.
Media interested in participating in person must apply at:
https://media.ksc.nasa.gov
Credentialed media will receive a confirmation email upon approval. NASA’s
media accreditation policy is available
online. For questions about accreditation or to request special logistical support such as space for satellite trucks, tents, or electrical connections, please email by Wednesday, Dec. 13, to:
ksc-media-accreditat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.
For other questions, please contact NASA Kennedy’s newsroom at: 321-867-2468.
Para obtener información sobre cobertura en español en el Centro Espacial Kennedy o si desea solicitar entrevistas en español, comuníquese
con Antonia Jaramillo o Messod Bendayan a: antonia.jaramillobotero@xxxxxxxx
o messod.c.bendayan@xxxxxxxx.
In May 2019, NASA awarded Astrobotic its first CLPS task order. The commercial flight is tracking to become the first launch of the eight delivery orders
the agency has awarded to date. NASA is working with multiple vendors to establish a regular cadence of payload lunar deliveries to perform experiments, test technologies, and demonstrate capabilities. Robotically exploring the lunar surface through CLPS will
help NASA collect relevant science data, ultimately advancing our lunar knowledge ahead of Artemis missions with crew on and around the Moon.
For more information about the agency’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative at:
https://www.nasa.gov/clps
-end-
Karen Fox
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1275
karen.fox@xxxxxxxx
Nilufar Ramji
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
nilufar.ramji@xxxxxxxx
Antonia Jaramillo
Kennedy Space Center, Florida
321-501-8425
antonia.jaramillobotero@xxxxxxxx
