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A new rocket developed by the United Launch Alliance deployed the first lunar lander from the U.S. in decades, on Monday, but the spacecraft suffered a "critical" fuel loss hours into its flight.
Why it matters: The rocket was carrying Astrobotic Technology's Peregrine lander, which is set to be the first commercial lander to touch down on the moon — and may install a cemetery on the lunar surface.
If Peregrine successfully lands next month, it would also be the first American lander on the moon since the end of the Apollo program in 1972.
How it works: United Launch Alliance's new Vulcan Centaur rocket launched from Florida's Canaveral Space Force Station 2:18am ET Monday before performing a burn to escape the planet's orbit.