A lunar lander built by Astrobiotic in Pittsburgh has passed a battery of critical tests, moving one step closer to touching down on the moon early next year.

The Peregrine lunar lander, which stands a bit more than 6 feet tall and is about 8 feet in diameter, is expected to be part of a United Launch Alliance atop a Vulcan Centaur, a methane-fueled, multi-stage rocket.

A moon mission is expected in first quarter 2023, with Peregrine descending to the lunar surface.

On the way to that mission, the lunar lander recently passed testing at the Dayton T. Brown commercial test facility in Bohemia, New York. According to Astrobiotic, the sine vibration, and acoustics testing proved that Peregrine can withstand the flight environment of the rocket.

“The completion of environmental testing marks a critical step forward in our program. This testing ensured the spacecraft is fully capable of meeting the rough environments it will feel during launch, transit and landing on the Moon, said Pete Frye, mechanical and fluid systems manager at Astrobotic.

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He explained that sine vibration testing replicates the low frequency vibrations the lander will be subjected to through its mounting adapter inside the Vulcan Centaur fairing during liftoff and as Vulcan leaves Earth’s atmosphere. Acoustic testing subjects the lander to the sound pressure waves it will encounter within the fairing during those same phases.

The industry-standard tests confirm the lander’s structure and propulsion system along with the lander’s many sensitive avionics, optic, and payloads will survive the intense environment as Vulcan delivers it to space.

Peregrine will now undergo electromagnetic interference testing.

The spacecraft next will be sent for thermal vacuum testing, before it moves to Cape Canaveral, Florida, for integration with the Vulcan Centaur.

Peregine carries five main engines that perform all the lunar lander’s primary maneuvers, including trans-lunar injection, which is the maneuver that sets a spacecraft on a trajectory to arrive at the moon, as well as trajectory correction, lunar orbit insertion and powered descent to the Moon’s surface.

It has four legs with large pads to absorb shock and stabilize it on touchdown.

Configurable decks and enclosures can be made to fit mission-specific mounting and placement. Rover missions release from the underside of the deck.

Peregrine is equipped with a solar panel and space-grade lithium-ion solar panel that provides 28-volt operational and heater power to payloads throughout the mission. The solar panel is pointed toward the sun whenever possible to provide continuous power generation while the battery is used when the sun is not visible.

Astrobotic, which bills itself as “the Moon company,” develops advanced navigation, operation, power, testing and computing systems for spacecraft. It offers a fleet of lunar landers and rovers to deliver payloads to the Moon.

The company has two fully funded lunar lander missions on the books, and more than 60 prior and ongoing NASA and commercial technology contracts worth more than $350 million.

It was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh. For more information, check out the company’s website.

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