The Peregine Mission-1 lunar lander is expected to "burn up" during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere in the next few days, according to its maker Pittsburgh-based space company Astrobotic.

The spacecraft departed Earth January 8 and was scheduled to land on the moon on February 23.

However, the spacecraft – the first ever private US Moon lander mission – began to leak propellant just hours after it was launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.

Astrobotic scientists have been working with Nasa and the US government to assess the lander's controlled re-entry path, finding the safest way to end the Peregrine mission.

They are "evaluating" the best way to protect satellites and not create space debris as the spacecraft burns up.