Intuitive machine
Despite a mussy landing place that left the Odysseus space vehicle with a disordered leg and careen over , the team at Intuitive Machines has hail its IM-1 lunar mission a success .
That ’s because it manage to get Odysseus onto the lunar surface mostly in one piece and function well enough to station data back to Earth .
Intuitive Machines
In achieving the exploit , Texas - based Intuitive Machines became the first private company to perform a soft landing on the synodic month and the first U.S. endeavor to make a soft lunar landing since the net Apollo mission in 1972 .
The downside is that the lander ’s solar panels are n’t welcome sun as effectively as intend due to its shaky side . With its current energy reserve used up , Odysseus has now powered down for a lunar nighttime , with the charge squad crossing their fingers in the Leslie Townes Hope that once the sun ’s ray hit its panels again later in March , the lander will amount back to sprightliness .
On Thursday , Intuitive Machines share another image ( below ) from the lander — this one invite in the terminal quite a little of information — showing part of Odysseus , a section of the moonshine , and a small crescent Earth .
“ Before its power was depleted , Odysseus completed a fitting farewell transmission , ” Intuitive Machines say in a post on social media . “ Received today , this image from February 22nd showcases the crescent Earth in the backdrop , a subtle reminder of humanity ’s presence in the population , ” the post read , add , “ Goodnight , Odie . We trust to take heed from you again . ”
Before its power was depleted , Odysseus completed a meet farewell transmission . receive today , this image from February 22nd showcases the crescent Earth in the background , a subtle admonisher of humanity ’s front in the existence .
Goodnight , Odie . We hope to try from you…pic.twitter.com/RwOWsH1TSz
& mdash ; Intuitive Machines ( @Int_Machines)February 29 , 2024
While Intuitive Machines is hoping to squeeze more data out of Odysseus should it spring into life in a few hebdomad from now , the squad is also taking what it ’s pick up from the mission to prepare for another lunar landing effort later this class .
Like IM-1 , IM-2 will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 Eruca sativa in a mission that ’s part of NASA ’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services ( CLPS ) initiative in which the space agency constrict commercial-grade collaborator as part of its Artemis program . The CLPS charge are pose the groundwork for crewed voyages to the moon , with the first Artemis spaceman landingcurrently place for 2026 .
