Astrobotic’s Mission One was one of a new slew of NASA-funded commercial enterprises fixated on the Moon to provide lunar transportation and facilitate exploration. Expectations for the mission were high, especially after ULA’s Vulcan launch, which lifted off without a hiccup.

Instead, Peregrine’s “propulsion anomaly” made it a lunar lander that couldn’t land. The lander eventually traveled back to Earth, where it re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere and harmlessly disintegrated.

While the anomaly was mission-ending, it shouldn’t be surprising. Commercial startups conducting lunar activities is a relatively new concept, with corresponding inflated expectations. The Gartner Hype Cycle usefully illustrates where the commercial lunar exploration industry is within the cycle.

Dive into the analysis of Virgin Galactic's business strategies, from suborbital tourism to point-to-point travel and research opportunities. Astralytical evaluates the company's potential in the evolving space industry.

Explore the intricate challenges of the space industry, beyond the cliché 'space is hard'. Delve into the complexities of space business management and opportunities for innovation.

Discover the potential of space industry opportunities, from smallsat launches to innovative technologies, and navigate the path to success in the evolving space market.

Discover the reality behind the hype in space startups: Learn to differentiate between genuine innovation and exaggerated claims in the dynamic space industry landscape.