Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus explains how the company's IM-1 lander capsized on the surface of the moon during a NASA press conference on February 22, 2023.
nasa television
Intuitive machines The cargo lander, Odysseus, sent back its first images of the moon's surface over the weekend, as the spacecraft settles into its lunar destination.
The company's historic IM-1 mission is now operating on the moon after landing on Thursday, becoming the first privately developed spacecraft to soft-land on the lunar surface.
Intuitive Machines initially reported that Odysseus was standing. But in an update late Friday, company executives said they believe the spacecraft snagged its landing gear sideways on the moon's surface as it landed and rolled over.
Despite resting on his side, Odysseus continues to send data. Intuitive Machines expects Odysseus to operate until Tuesday morning, when its solar panels will no longer be exposed to the sun.
Intuitive Machines shares fell as much as 30% in Monday trading from their previous close of $9.59 per share.
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The Odysseus lander was carrying 12 government and commercial payloads, six of which are for NASA under a $118 million contract through the agency's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative.
NASA leaders emphasized that the IM-1 mission was still successful despite the spacecraft capsizing, calling the landing “a gigantic achievement.”
The Nova-C lunar lander designed by aerospace company Intuitive Machines is displayed at the company's headquarters in Houston, Texas, US, on October 3, 2023.
Staff | Reuters
One of the payloads, “EagleCam,” is a small camera developed by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. EagleCam was originally going to be ejected in the final moments of the Odysseus landing, to capture the first images of a moon landing from outside a spacecraft, but a problem with the lander's navigation system meant the camera did not deploy. . The Embry-Riddle team said Intuitive Machines still plans to launch EagleCam from the lander later.
These are some of the initial images of the landing:
coming to land
The company's Odysseus cargo lander is seen flying toward the lunar surface in preparation for its landing on February 22, 2024.
Intuitive machines
on the surface
A wide field of view image taken shortly after Odysseus capsized.
Intuitive machines
Seen from above
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter camera identified Intuitive Machines' Odysseus lander on the surface.
NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University
