CAPE CANAVERAL, Jan 8, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - The first American spacecraft to attempt to land on the Moon in more than half a century blasted off early Monday -- but this time, private industry is leading the charge.

A brand new rocket, United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Centaur, lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 2:18 am (7:18 GMT) for its maiden voyage, carrying Astrobotic's Peregrine Lunar Lander, with touchdown scheduled for mid-February.