A spacecraft belonging to Texas-based company Intuitive Machines successfully landed near the moon’s south pole on Thursday, marking the first American lunar touchdown in nearly half a century and the inaugural achievement by a private company, as reported by Reuters.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) hailed this event as a significant milestone toward its goal of deploying a fleet of commercial spacecraft for scientific reconnaissance missions on the moon, preceding human return missions later in the decade.
Despite initial communication challenges after the landing, with concerns about potential damage or obstructions to the unmanned, six-legged robot lander named Odysseus, the mission eventually reestablished contact. An issue with the spacecraft’s autonomous navigation system and an anticipated radio blackout during its descent caused temporary uncertainty.
Upon renewed contact, a faint signal confirmed the successful lunar touchdown, but precise details regarding the lander’s condition and orientation remained uncertain at mission control. Intuitive Machines Mission Director Tim Crain congratulated the team on the achievement and expressed anticipation for further insights from the lunar surface.
