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Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic<\/a>\u2019s first lunar lander is set to take off on United Launch Alliance\u2019s new Vulcan Centaur rocket on Christmas Eve, ULA CEO Tory Bruno said.<\/p>\n Bruno told the audience at the CNBC Technology Executive Council Summit that the rocket company is targeting between December 24 and December 26 for the first-ever Vulcan launch. \u201cThe reason it\u2019s Christmas Eve is because of science \u2013 orbital mechanics,\u201d ULA CEO Tory Bruno said.<\/p>\n The rocket will carry Astrobotic\u2019s Peregrine robotic lander and a hosted payload from Celestis, a company that partners with launch companies to send small portions of cremated remains to space as a memorial service. ULA, a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin, has a backup window in January should the rocket fail to take-off in December.<\/p>\n Astrobotic\u2019s Peregrine is launching as part of a $79.5 million NASA contract awarded in 2019 under the Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative. The lander, which is a little over six feet tall and eight feet wide, with a 120-kilogram payload capacity, will deliver scientific payloads to the northern part of the moon on behalf of the space agency.<\/p>\n While the mission date seems festive, its due in part to Astrobotic\u2019s mission requirements, Bruno said. \u201cWe\u2019re going to a part of the moon where they need very carefully controlled lighting conditions and they also have to stay in radio communication with the Deep Space Network,\u201d he explained. \u201cWhen you put the two together, we get just a few days every month.\u201d<\/p>\n