Fuel leak forces US company to abandon moon landing attempt

By MARCIA DUNN
AP Aerospace Writer

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A crippling fuel leak has forced a U.S. company to give up on landing a spacecraft on the moon. Astrobotic Technology’s lander began leaking fuel shortly after Monday’s launch from Florida. The company said Tuesday that the leak may have been the result of a ruptured tank. The spacecraft also encountered problems with its solar panel. The company said the goal now was to keep the lander operating as long as possible in space. A second lander from a Houston company is due to launch next month. Only four countries have successfully landed on the moon.