The US space probe “Odyssey” overturned on the moon – News
[ad_1]
The American spaceship “Odyssey” overturned on the moon
Intuitive Machines
The American space probe “Odyssey”, which landed on the moon for the first time in more than half a century, turned over on its side.
The robotic lander descended into the south polar region of the Moon on February 22 at 6:23 p.m. ET. However, several minutes passed before the controllers were able to catch a signal from the lander’s communication systems, writes The Guardian, citing NASA.
“After landing, “Odyssey” got caught with its “foot” on the surface and turned over on its side” said Steve Althemus, CEO of Intuitive Machines, the company that built and operated the lander.
Still, he says, the lander is “near or at the intended landing site.”
NASA and Intuitive Machines said they are receiving data from the lander and believe it may be operational.
The area near the moon’s south pole where Odyssey landed is “treacherous and cratered,” but was chosen because scientists believe it is likely rich in the frozen water needed for future lunar missions.
NASA paid Intuitive Machines $118 million for the trip as part of the agency’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, which awards contracts to private partners. The mission is part of the Artemis program to return astronauts to the Moon.
The more than 4-meter-long, six-legged Odyssey lander used NASA’s experimental laser navigation system to guide its descent after Intuitive Machines’ laser instrument failed.
NASA says a device called EagleCam, developed by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, was supposed to “pop out” 30 seconds before landing to take pictures of the Odyssey landing, but the device was intentionally turned off because the navigation system needed to be switched. EagleCam will attempt to launch in the coming days so that it can photograph the lander from a distance of about 8 meters.
Shares of Intuitive Machines fell 30% on news that the spacecraft had capsized.
It will be recalled that the private spaceship “Odyssey” sent the first photos taken in space to land on the surface of the moon.
[ad_2]
Original Source Link
