The Peregrine Lunar Landerr launched from Earth on January 8, 2024 (Credit: Astrobotic Technology/ CC-BY-SA-2.0)

On January 8, 2024, the world witnessed a remarkable effort by NASA and Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic Technology to land a spacecraft on the Moon. It was the first US attempt at the lunar surface since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. The Peregrine Lunar Lander was launched into Earth's orbit without a hitch. Its final destination was an unexplored area on the western rim of the Moon's largest impact crater.