Intuitive Machines Successfully Lands U.S.-Built Spacecraft on Moon After 50 Years

Houston-based company Intuitive Machines achieved a historic milestone today by successfully landing the Odysseus spacecraft on the moon, marking the first U.S.-built spacecraft to accomplish this feat in over 50 years. This achievement also signifies the first private company to achieve a lunar touchdown.

Following meticulous preparations, Odysseus initiated a challenging one-hour 13-minute descent from lunar orbit towards its landing site about 186 miles from the moon’s south pole. The descent process, marked by precision adjustments and innovative navigation techniques, culminated in the spacecraft’s vertical descent towards the lunar surface.

Prior to touchdown, Odysseus’ main engine was set to ignite at an altitude of nearly 20 miles, reorienting the spacecraft vertically for a controlled descent. As Odysseus approached the surface, a unique camera system named “EagleCam,” developed by students at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, aimed to capture the craft’s final moments. Additionally, NASA cameras onboard were poised to image the lunar surface directly beneath the spacecraft.

The touchdown, anticipated near the Malapert A crater at 6:24 p.m. EST, would mark a significant U.S. lunar landing since Apollo 17 in 1972, and the first by a privately-built spacecraft. Previous private lunar missions faced setbacks, with Astrobotic’s Peregrine mission encountering a ruptured tank during launch. Odysseus, funded partially by NASA’s CLPS program, aimed to advance lunar transportation technologies for future human expeditions.

NASA’s investment in both Peregrine and Odysseus missions exemplifies the agency’s commitment to fostering technological advancements and data collection necessary for upcoming human missions to the moon’s south pole. The mission payloads aboard Odysseus include unique instruments, commercial payloads, and artworks like those of artist Jeff Koons and Columbia Sportswear.

Among the scientific experiments onboard Odysseus are tools to study the moon’s charged particle environment, navigation technologies, and cameras to document the landing process. Notably, the spacecraft carries innovative technology for accurately measuring cryogenic propellant levels in a weightless environment, crucial for future deep space missions.

Odysseus is anticipated to function for about a week on the lunar surface before the onset of the frigid lunar night renders it inoperable. The successful landing of Odysseus heralds a new era in lunar exploration, blending private ingenuity with NASA’s expertise for pioneering space endeavors.