Intuitive Machines’ Athena Lander Reaches the Moon: What’s Next for This Groundbreaking Mission?

Athena didn’t crash, but its landing left many questions. After this 15-foot-tall robotic spacecraft reached the moon, it was unclear if it had landed safely or tipped over, which could hinder its mission.

Tim Crain, chief technology officer of Intuitive Machines, explained that they were still trying to figure out what went wrong during the final descent. Athena is similar to the Odysseus lander, which was the first commercial vehicle to land on the moon last year. However, Odysseus had a rough landing and ended up tipping over, raising concerns about Athena’s fate.

During a press conference, Steve Altemus, CEO of Intuitive Machines, mentioned that Athena sent back mixed signals about its position. There were indicators suggesting it might be lying on its side, based on readings from a special sensor.

The landing seemed to go well until the last moments. Laser instruments tracking the lander’s altitude provided confusing data, which likely contributed to the landing issues. Dr. Crain noted that up to that point, Athena had performed better than Odysseus. They were optimistic about a successful mission.

As teams work to assess the situation, the future of Athena’s scientific goals hangs in the balance. Their hope is to gather valuable data from the moon, particularly from areas near the lunar south pole, which remain relatively unexplored.

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