First US lunar lander in five decades blasts off on private mission

The first American spacecraft to attempt to land on the Moon in more than half a century successfully launched early Monday and it is leading the charge by a private industry.

A brand new rocket, United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Centaur lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida for its maiden voyage, carrying Astrobotic's Peregrine Lunar Lander. 

Mission control staff cheered and applauded as the lander separated from the rocket around 48 minutes later without problems -- a key milestone for the private company.