The “Odyssey” spacecraft, heading for the Moon, sent the first photos from space – News

The private Odyssey spacecraft, which is on its way to the moon to land on its surface, has sent back the first photos taken in space.

The camera recorded itself against the background of our planet. The selfie was published on February 17 by Intuitive Machines, India Today and Gadget Tendency write.

On February 15, the comical device was launched into space by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The launch took place as part of the second attempt of the Artemis Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, which aims to deliver cargo to the satellite on private lunar vehicles.

Last time, the Peregrine spacecraft, launched by the Vulcan Centaur rocket, suffered a fuel leak after separation from the rocket’s upper stage. On January 18, the device burned up in the Earth’s atmosphere.

As part of the IM-1 mission, “Odyssey” is to deliver six commercial cargoes to the Moon. This mission is part of NASA’s initiative to develop manned lunar missions.

Initially, landing is scheduled for February 22.

According to experts, the fate of “Odyssey” should be better than that of its predecessor. All its systems, in particular the engine, successfully passed a crucial test in outer space.

It is noted that among the features of the spacecraft is an engine that runs on liquid methane and oxygen. This type of engine was launched into space for the first time.

If Intuitive Machines’ attempt to land on the moon is successful, it will be a historic event, as no private spacecraft has ever made a soft landing on the moon, experts added.

We previously reported that the Hubble telescope captured galaxies merging in a “gravitational dance.”