Yesterday, we discussed the launch of the United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket to the moon and the objections raised by the Navajo Nation to putting human remains on the lunar surface. Based on the first reports coming back from space, the indigenous people’s concerns may have been for naught because it sounds like the Vulcan’s lunar lander will never have the opportunity to set down. There has reportedly been a “critical loss of fuel” onboard the craft and it is currently scrambling to use its solar panels to charge its batteries while United’s technicians analyze the issue. The apparent leak was first noticed roughly seven hours after liftoff and was continuing well into the night. It’s currently estimated that the craft will only have enough battery power for another 40 hours of operation and the mission essentially appears to be doomed.
The first U.S. moon landing…
