Nasa just launched a piece of Mount Everest to the Moon

New Delhi,UPDATED: Jan 8, 2024 14:26 IST

The Peregrine lander has successfully launched on its journey to the Moon after taking off on January 8, 2024, from Cape Canaveral varrying with it not just scientific payloads but unique gifts from Earth.

The Peregrine lander is set to deliver approximately 20 payloads, with a total mass capacity of 90 kg, to the lunar surface.

Among these payloads are five Nasa instruments designed to conduct groundbreaking scientific research. These include the Linear Energy Transfer Spectrometer (LETS), which will monitor radiation levels; the Near-Infrared Volatile Spectrometer System (NIRVSS), tasked with analysing lunar soil composition; and the Neutron Spectrometer System (NSS), which could detect water in the Moon's soil.

Additionally, the Peregrine Ion-Trap Mass Spectrometer (PITMS) will study the thin lunar atmosphere, while the Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA) will serve as a precise location marker on the Moon for future missions. These instruments will contribute valuable data to NASA's Lunar Vulkan Imaging and Spectroscopy Explorer instrument suite, slated for a 2026 landing at the Gruithuisen Domes.

However, the mission has also attracted attention for carrying unconventional items such as a copy of Wikipedia, a bitcoin, and personal mementos like photographs and a piece of Mount Everest. Space memorial firms Elysium Space and Celestis have included cremated remains and DNA samples, including those of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, sparking debate over the cultural and ethical implications of sending such materials to the Moon.

Despite concerns raised by some groups, such as the Navajo Nation, regarding the sanctity of the Moon, the mission proceeds under the premise of advancing scientific knowledge and preparing for human return to the lunar surface.

The Peregrine lander is targeting a landing on February 23 at Sinus Viscositatis, an area of interest due to its potential evidence of water.