NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has made an exciting discovery on the moon’s surface. The spacecraft has spotted the tipped-over Odysseus lander, which landed less than a mile away from its intended landing site near the moon’s south pole. This incredible achievement was made possible by Intuitive Machines, the builder of the Odysseus lander, based in Houston.
Intuitive Machines shared a picture captured by the lander during its final descent, as well as a blurry shot taken after touchdown. The images show the rock-strewn surface surrounding the landing site. The company also revealed that Odysseus is still in communication with flight controllers on Earth, specifically with Nova Control. It sent images of its vertical descent to its landing site at Malapert A, marking the furthest south any vehicle has been able to land on the moon and establish communication with ground controllers.
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera, operated by NASA, confirmed that Odysseus touched down at 80.13 degrees south latitude and 1.44 east longitude, with an elevation of 1.6 miles. This places it within 5,000 feet of the intended landing site, near a crater known as Malapert A.
The images captured by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter show the Odysseus lander as a tiny dot casting a distinct shadow on the cratered terrain near the moon’s south pole. It is a remarkable sight, considering the journey Odysseus undertook, traveling more than 600,000 miles before reaching its destination. The lander landed within nine-tenths of a mile from its intended landing site, showcasing the precision of the mission.
Another photograph taken by Odysseus shows the lunar terrain below as the spacecraft descended straight down toward the moon’s surface. Its fixed landing legs were poised for touchdown, capturing a breathtaking moment in space exploration.
Odysseus was launched from the Kennedy Space Center on February 15 and successfully landed on the moon at 6:24 p.m. EST last Thursday. This achievement makes it the first privately built spacecraft to touch down on the moon and the first U.S. spacecraft of any kind to accomplish this feat in over 50 years. It is a significant milestone for both Intuitive Machines and the United States’ space exploration efforts.
However, upon touchdown, Odysseus encountered a slight issue. One of its six landing legs appeared to dig into the lunar surface, get caught on a rock, or become stuck in a crevice. As a result, the 14-foot-tall lander tipped over onto its side. Despite this setback, the lander survived the landing, but its antennas were not properly aimed at Earth, leading to slower data transmission than expected.
Unfortunately, Odysseus’s time on the moon is limited. The spacecraft will only be able to function for a few more days before the sun sets at the landing site, rendering it unable to generate solar power. Nevertheless, the mission has been a resounding success, showcasing the capabilities of private space companies and their contributions to scientific exploration.
In other lunar news, Japan’s moon lander, SLIM, also faced its own challenges. The spacecraft touched down on the moon on January 19 but promptly tipped over on its nose due to a malfunctioning engine. Despite initial expectations that it would not survive the lunar night, flight controllers managed to reestablish contact with SLIM over the weekend. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency reported that SLIM successfully survived the night on the lunar surface while maintaining communication capabilities. Observations will resume once the temperature has cooled sufficiently.
These recent developments in lunar exploration highlight the progress being made in space exploration and the determination of scientists and engineers to overcome obstacles. As technology continues to advance, we can expect even more exciting discoveries and achievements in the field of space exploration.