SPACE — The robotic spacecraft Odysseus took several selfies with Earth shortly after its launch on Thursday, February 15, 2024. The spacecraft belonging to the company Intuitive Machines is heading for the moon, carrying NASA payloads and various other customers.
“Odysseus successfully sent its first IM-1 mission image to Earth on February 16, 2024. The image was taken shortly after separation from the second stage of the SpaceX rocket,” said the company based in Houston, United States on Saturday, February 17, 2024.
In a post on X, Intuitive Machines shared four selfie photos. The IM-1 Odysseus mission is part of the American Space Agency’s (NASA) Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program.
1 of four selfies of the Odysseus lunar lander. Image: Intuitive Machines
Another selfie from the Odysseus lunar lander, apparently taken with a fisheye camera. Image: Intuitive Machines
Odysseus carries six NASA experiments and technology demonstrations, along with six commercial payloads. IM-1 was not the first CLPS attempt to launch.
Also read: Failing with a plane carrying human remains, the US is now sending statues and museums to the moon
Last January, Astrobotic’s Peregrine lunar lander failed to reach the moon. As a result, the science instruments and all other payloads burned up along with Peregrine in Earth’s atmosphere.
Until now, Odysseus’ journey is still better. The lander is in good condition and continues to communicate with mission control. The plan is that Odysseus will land on the moon on February 22 2024.
Odysseus’ various systems function normally, including his engines, which have just completed an important task in space. “Flight controllers successfully fired the first liquid methane and liquid oxygen engines in space, completing the engine commissioning of the IM-1 mission. “This engine firing includes the main engine firing at full thrust and the throttle down profile required for landing on the moon,” the company said last Friday.
America expected a lot from Odysseus. If the landing is successful, it will be the first private aircraft to successfully land on the moon. Several previous attempts by Japanese companies and others failed upon landing. Source: Space.com
2024-02-18 06:33:00
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