1st US spacecraft to make moon landing in half century runs into snag

Published February 24,2024

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The first spacecraft to make a US touchdown on the moon in additional than 50 years ran right into a snag, officers mentioned Friday.

The Odysseus lander touched down on the lunar floor late Thursday, making it the primary American spacecraft to make a moon touchdown since NASA’s Apollo missions led to 1972.

Intuitive Machines, the non-public Houston, Texas-based firm that constructed the spacecraft, initially mentioned the lander touched down in an upright place at its vacation spot close to the moon’s south pole.

But CEO Steve Altemus advised reporters Friday that the craft “caught a foot in the surface and tipped,” in keeping with a number of media shops.

The lander is believed to be tilted on its facet, probably leaning on a rock, mentioned firm officers. The mishap broken some antennas and hampered communications with the spacecraft, however the mission continues to be ongoing.

“So far, we have quite a bit of operational capability even though we’re tipped over,” mentioned Altemus.

Intuitive Machines grew to become the primary non-public firm to attain a moon touchdown.

NASA reportedly paid $118 million for the mission to ship scientific payload to the moon.