In a historic moment, NASA has successfully launched a lunar landing mission from Cape Kennedy, marking a significant leap in space exploration after several decades. The Peregrine lunar lander, carrying the first lunar module launched from the United States since NASA's last Apollo mission in 1972, is set to touch down on the moon on February 23 in the newly named Bay of Stickiness.

The Peregrine 1 lander, loaded with NASA scientific equipment, began its journey to the moon following a flawless launch of the Vulcan Centaur rocket at Cape Canaveral. This mission not only signifies the inaugural flight of the powerful new rocket developed by the Boeing-Lockheed venture United Launch Alliance but also aims to achieve the first U.S. lunar soft landing in 50 years.

Constructed by the space robotics firm Astrobotic, the Peregrine lunar lander took flight at 7:18 GMT, aspiring to achieve a milestone as the first lunar landing by a private company – a goal that has been elusive in recent years.

Moments after separating from the rocket, Astrobotic's mission control received a signal from the lander, which will enter a highly elliptical orbit to navigate towards its destination. Scheduled for a landing on February 23, Peregrine will collect vital data about the lunar surface in preparation for future human missions.

This mission operates under NASA's commercial lunar payload services (CLPS) initiative, a program where private companies are contracted to deliver scientific equipment to the moon. Peregrine carries five NASA payloads and 15 others, with instruments designed to measure radiation levels, surface and subsurface water ice, the magnetic field, and the exosphere – the moon's extremely tenuous gas layer. These readings are anticipated to minimize risks and facilitate the utilization of the moon's natural resources when humans return to its surface.

Adding to the mission's diversity, Peregrine carries the first Latin American scientific instruments attempting to reach the moon. Five small moon rovers, each weighing less than 60g and measuring 12cm across, are part of this groundbreaking venture. Carnegie Mellon University also has a rover onboard, contributing to the broader scientific exploration of Earth's celestial neighbor.