The lunar lander, known as Odysseus, is in good condition but resting on its side a day after making history as the first civilian spacecraft to touch down on the moon’s surface and the first U.S. lunar landing since 1972, a company official confirmed on Friday.
The landing craft caught one of its six landing legs on a rock near the end of its final descent, causing it to tip over on its side, according to a data analysis by aeronautical engineers at Houston-based Intuitive Machines.
Despite the unexpected landing, Odysseus is believed to be stable and near its planned landing site near a crater called Malapart A in the moon’s south polar region, said Stephen Altemus, CEO of Intuitive Machines.
“We are in contact with the lander and are actively sending commands to it in order to capture the first images of the lunar surface from the landing site,” Altemus added.
An update on the mission’s status posted on the company’s website early Friday confirmed that Odysseus was still operational.
Although initial reports indicated that the lander had landed upright, company officials clarified that it had actually landed on its side due to telemetry errors, but most of the payloads onboard were still functional, allowing for communication.
While there are some challenges, such as certain antennas pointing towards the surface and solar panels facing in the wrong direction, the spacecraft’s battery is fully charged and the mission director remains optimistic about fulfilling all payload requirements.
Odysseus utilized liquid methane and liquid oxygen propellants and performed well during its flight to the moon, making it the first of its kind in space exploration.
After overcoming navigation system issues during the final approach and descent to the moon, engineers successfully landed the spacecraft, reestablished communication, and are now monitoring its operation as it begins its mission on the lunar surface.
Following the news of the lander tipping over, Intuitive Machines’ stock experienced a 30% decline in extended trading on Friday, offsetting gains made earlier in the day.
Source: www.nbcnews.com
