The Odysseus spacecraft has effectively reached the lunar floor
The Odysseus lander designed by way of personal aerospace corporate Intuitive Machines has grow to be the primary US-made spacecraft to the touch ill at the Moon since 1972. It used to be introduced boarded a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on February 15.
“Without a doubt, our equipment is on the surface of the Moon, and we are transmitting,” Intuitive Machines co-founder Tim Crain mentioned right through the livestream.
“Today for the first time in more than a half-century, the US has returned to the Moon,” NASA Administrator Invoice Nelson mentioned in a while upcoming the 14-foot-tall lander effectively reached the lunar floor. “Today is a day that shows the power and promise of NASA’s commercial partnerships.”
Year orbiting the Moon, Odysseus snapped an image of the Bel’kovich crater.
Odysseus’ Soil Relative Navigation digicam captured this symbol of the Bel’kovich Okay crater within the Moon’s northern equatorial highlands.
It’s an approximate 50 km diameter crater with mountains within the middle, made when the crater used to be shaped.
(21FEB2024 1750 CST) pic.twitter.com/0egu0NOrKP— Intuitive Machines (@Int_Machines) February 21, 2024
The lander incorporates six NASA analysis gadgets, together with apparatus for examining lunar park and the electron plasma.
The Odysseus additionally carries a piece by way of American artist Jeff Koons – a clear field with 125 stainless steel spherical sculptures representing the stages of the Moon.
Only a couple hours clear of the initiation at 1AM EST Feb 14 of my works of art Moon Stages on Intuitive Machines’ IM-1 challenge. The photographs seize the Nova-C lunar lander being encapsulated on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. I’m venerated to have the primary approved art work at the Moon. pic.twitter.com/RpuSjbr7de
— Jeff Koons (@JeffKoons) February 13, 2024
The United States blocked sending landers at the Moon upcoming the Apollo 17 challenge concluded in December 1972.
Utmost presen, NASA introduced that its Artemis II challenge – a crewed lunar flyby – has been behind schedule till September 2025. The go back of astronauts at the Moon is now anticipated in September 2026.
supply: www.rt.com
