Intuitive Machines’ Lunar Lander Marks First American Craft on Moon in 50 Years
San Francisco, Feb 23 (IANS) – In a historic moment, Intuitive Machines’ first lunar lander touched down on the moon early Friday morning, marking the first American spacecraft to land on the lunar surface in more than 50 years. The uncrewed lander, named Odysseus, landed at the lunar South Pole on Thursday at 6.23 p.m. Eastern Time (4.53 a.m. India time), according to NASA. The spacecraft carries NASA science and other commercial payloads to the moon. The mission, codenamed IM-1, marks Intuitive Machines’ first robotic flight to the moon’s surface.
“After troubleshooting communications, flight controllers have confirmed Odysseus is upright and starting to send data. Right now, we are working to downlink the first images from the lunar surface,” Intuitive Machines posted on X. In response, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk congratulated the US company, saying, “Congrats on landing on the moon!”
The last US moon landing mission was made in December 1972, when Apollo 17 touched down on the lunar surface for the final mission of the Apollo Programme. This new achievement in space exploration marks a significant milestone in America’s efforts to explore and utilize the moon for scientific research and commercial activities.
Odysseus’ successful landing on the moon also represents a major leap forward for private space companies like SpaceX, which launched the spacecraft on a Falcon 9 rocket. With the ability to carry both NASA and commercial payloads, Odysseus signifies a new era of lunar exploration and potential opportunities for scientific discovery and technological advancements.
As the world celebrates this momentous achievement, the successful landing of Odysseus highlights the progress and potential of private space companies and their role in advancing space exploration. With more missions planned for the moon in the coming years, the collaboration between government agencies and private companies is set to shape the future of space exploration and expand our understanding of the universe.
