NASA’s Odysseus Lunar Lander Set to Make Historic Touchdown on the Moon
In a groundbreaking mission, NASA is preparing for the first touchdown on the moon by a United States spacecraft in over five decades. After a failed lunar landing attempt last month, NASA is placing its hopes on a second spacecraft, the Odysseus lunar lander, developed by Intuitive Machines. The spacecraft, affectionately nicknamed Odie, is scheduled to launch atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 12:57 a.m. ET on Wednesday.
The rocket will propel the Odysseus into an oval-shaped orbit around Earth, extending out to 380,000 kilometers. Intuitive Machines CEO Stephen Altemus describes this as a “high-energy fastball pitch towards the moon.” Once in Earth’s orbit, the lunar lander will separate from the rocket and begin its independent journey towards the lunar surface using an onboard engine.
The Odysseus is expected to spend just over a week free-flying through space before attempting to touch down on the lunar surface on February 22. If successful, it will be the first US spacecraft to make a soft landing on the moon since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.
The launch of the Odysseus mission holds significant importance following the failure of the Peregrine lunar lander developed by Astrobotic Technology. The fuel leak that occurred during the Peregrine mission resulted in its burning up in the Earth’s atmosphere. NASA’s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) program aims to develop lunar landers under relatively cheap, fixed-price contracts to establish a US presence on the moon amidst the global rush to explore and utilize its resources.
What sets NASA’s approach apart is its embrace of commercialization. By involving private industry in developing multiple spacecraft through competitive contracts, NASA has reduced costs and accelerated innovation. Intuitive Machines’ Altemus refers to this strategy as “forced innovation.” The company stands to receive up to $118 million from NASA for the Odysseus mission.
The Odysseus lander, known as Nova-C, is roughly the size of a British telephone booth with legs attached. It will be equipped with six NASA payloads, including scientific instruments to test new technology and evaluate the lunar environment. The spacecraft will also carry commemorative objects and technology from private-sector companies, such as Columbia Sportswear, which developed insulation material for the lander.
The landing site for the Odysseus is the moon’s south pole, an area of high interest due to its suspected water ice reserves. This region could potentially provide drinking water for astronauts or serve as a source of rocket fuel. Notably, NASA is also targeting the same lunar region for future crewed missions later this decade.
While the odds of success are estimated at around 80%, a successful landing by the Odysseus would only be the beginning. Intuitive Machines envisions establishing a lunar program that regularly flies to the moon, paving the way for common and affordable lunar travel. This could eventually lead to grander projects, such as a functioning lunar base with astronauts living and working there.
The Odysseus mission represents a significant milestone in NASA’s renewed efforts to explore the moon robotically before returning astronauts to its surface. As the global space race intensifies, NASA’s collaboration with private industry and its focus on commercialization are driving innovation and opening up new possibilities for space exploration.
Sources:
– CNN