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Astrobotic\u2019s ill-fated Peregrine moon lander may soon be tumbling through space, but in the meantime, it\u2019s collecting data for science. In an update<\/a> on Thursday, NASA disclosed that payloads aboard the lander successfully collecting data. Astrobotic shared a similar update on X (formerly Twitter) earlier in the day<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n NASA says the plan is to extend Peregrine\u2019s mission for as long as possible in order to continue data collection efforts. \u201cMeasurements and operations of the NASA-provided science instruments on board will provide valuable experience, technical knowledge, and scientific data to future CLPS lunar deliveries,\u201d said Joel Kearns, deputy associate administrator for exploration with NASA\u2019s Science Mission Directorate in a statement included in NASA\u2019s announcement. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n In a joint mission<\/a> with NASA, Astrobotic, a private space company based in Pittsburgh, launched Peregrine Mission One in the early hours of January 8th. The plan was to make the first US lunar landing in more than 50 years \u2014 with the ultimate goal of reaching the moon\u2019s surface in late February. But a leak in Peregrine\u2019s propulsion system<\/a> was detected shortly after launch, and the company announced on Tuesday there wasn\u2019t enough propellant left \u2014\u00a0only a couple of day\u2019s worth \u2014 to make a soft landing<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Peregrine is still operationally stable as of Thursday evening. In an update posted at 4:01PM PT on Thursday, Astrobotic reported<\/a> that Peregrine has an estimated 48 hours of fuel remaining \u2014 much more than what was anticipated in its earlier reports \u2014 because the rate of the leak has slowed as time has progressed. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Peregrine is also carrying Iris Lunar Rover, a tiny rover built by Carnegie Mellon University students<\/a> that was supposed to take photos on the moon. A photo of Iris\u2019s wheels and a fuel tank with the American flag was also posted today by Astrobotic on X.\u00a0Iris also sent a message<\/a> to Earth: \u201cHello, Earth!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n