Moon landing attempt appears doomed after ‘critical’ fuel leak

A propulsion system problem “threatens the ability of the spacecraft to soft land on the moon”, the company said. 

Astrobotic Technology’s lander developed a ‘critical’ fuel leak just hours after Monday’s launch (Craig Bailey/Florida Today via AP)

The first US moon landing attempt in more than 50 years appears to be doomed after a private company’s spacecraft developed a “critical” fuel leak just hours after Monday’s launch.

Private company Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic Technology estimated that the lander, carrying a piece of technology developed by UK scientists, would start losing power in about 40 hours.