How a Single Faulty Valve Caused Astrobotic’s $108M Moon Mission Failure
The Root Cause Revealed
Astrobotic’s ambitious Peregrine lunar lander mission failed due to a critical malfunction in just one propulsion system valve, according to a comprehensive mission report released Tuesday. The company has already implemented design changes to prevent similar issues in future missions.
Timeline of the Mission Failure
- January 8, 2024: Mission launched successfully
- Hours after launch: Propulsion system activated in orbit
- Critical failure: Helium valve malfunction caused oxidizer tank rupture
- 10.5 days later: Spacecraft re-entered Earth’s atmosphere and burned up
Technical Breakdown of the Failure
During the post-launch press conference, Astrobotic CEO John Thornton explained:
- Two pressure control valves (PCVs) should have regulated helium flow into fuel tanks
- The second valve failed to reseal, allowing uncontrolled helium flow
- This caused catastrophic over-pressurization and tank rupture
- Oxidizer leaked continuously thereafter, dooming the mission
John Horack, chair of the review board, identified the likely cause as “vibration-induced relaxation” between threaded valve components - a failure replicated in ground tests.
The Investigation Process
A 34-member review board (26 internal, 8 external) conducted an exhaustive analysis:
- Reviewed all mission telemetry data
- Examined pre-flight qualification testing
- Traced component history back to 2019 procurement
- Verified findings through ground testing replication
Supply Chain Complications
The report revealed significant backstory:
- 2019: Original propulsion system vendor contracted
- 2020-2022: Vendor faced COVID-related technical/supply issues
- Early 2022: Astrobotic terminated contract, brought development in-house
- August 2022: Switched PCV suppliers after component issues emerged
Lessons Learned and Future Improvements
For the upcoming Griffin lander mission (targeting late 2025), Astrobotic has implemented:
✅ Redesigned valve mechanism ✅ Added helium flow regulator ✅ Incorporated backup latch valves for redundancy ✅ Increased vertical integration of propulsion systems
Mission director Sharad Bhaskaran noted: “This experience has significantly reduced risk for Griffin, which is far more complex than Peregrine.”
Expert Validation
Review board chair Horack affirmed: “After thorough examination, I found no decision points where I would have recommended a different course of action given the information available at the time.”
Image Credit: Astrobotic
Related Reading: Why valves remain a critical challenge in spacecraft design
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