00:00 4, 3, we have ignition.
00:07 The Vulcan Centaur, marking the first American spacecraft attempting a moon landing in over
00:12 50 years, launched early Monday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
00:17 In this mission, it is the nation's private industry taking the lead in returning America
00:21 to the lunar surface.
00:23 The newly launched rocket by United Launch Alliance took off from Cape Canaveral at 2.18
00:29 a.m. for its inaugural journey.
00:31 Onboard the spacecraft is Astrobotics' Perigrine Lunar Lander, set to land in mid-February.
00:38 Following the launch, ULA Shedonex, successful Vulcan rocket staging, ignition.
00:44 If the mission proceeds as planned, the Perigrine, destined for Sinus Viscositasis, a mid-latitude
00:51 region of the moon, will touch down on February 23.
00:55 Astrobotics CEO John Thornton expressed, "Leading America back to the surface of the moon for
01:00 the first time since Apollo is a momentous honor," before the launch.
01:05 The Perigrine Lander is equipped with a suite of scientific instruments to explore the moon's
01:10 radiation and surface composition, contributing to preparations for astronauts' return to
01:14 the lunar surface.
01:15 However, it carries some controversial cargo, including the cremated remains and DNA of
01:20 Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, renowned science fiction author and scientist Arthur
01:25 C. Clarke, and a dog.
01:27 Additionally, the lander includes a shoebox-sized rover from Carnegie Mellon University and
01:33 a physical bitcoin.
01:35 Operated under the Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, the United States leverages
01:39 the commercial sector for cost-effective lunar missions.
01:43 Astrobotics received over $100 million for its role in the moon landing.
01:47 Another mission by Houston-based Intuitive Machines is scheduled for February, aiming
01:51 to land near the South Pole.
01:53 Achieving controlled touchdown on the moon is a challenging endeavor, with approximately
01:57 half of the attempts historically resulting in failure.
02:00 Only a few nations, including the Soviet Union, the US, China, and India, have succeeded in
02:05 lunar landings to date.
02:11 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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