US Vulcan rocket launches on Moon mission

The uncrewed Vulcan rocket has launched from Florida to despatch a robotic spacecraft towards the Moon.

The Peregrine lander is carrying five scientific instruments for the US space agency, Nasa. If the craft touches down gently on the lunar surface, it will be the first American mission to do so since the famed Apollo missions in the 1960s/70s.

The Vulcan left Cape Canaveral at 07:18 GMT (02:18 EST). The Peregrine lander is expected to attempt its landing on 23 February.

Just hours after launch, Astrobotic, the company behind the Moon mission, said the spacecraft ran into a technical hitch involving its solar panels.

Astrobotic said engineers were working on the issue and would provide updates when it had more information.

In the future, the Vulcan rocket will be launching many of America's national security missions.

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