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The Odysseus lander designed by non-public aerospace firm Intuitive Machines has turn into the primary US-made spacecraft to the touch down on the Moon since 1972. It was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on February 15.
“No doubt, our gear is on the floor of the Moon, and we’re transmitting,” Intuitive Machines co-founder Tim Crain stated in the course of the livestream.
“At present for the primary time in additional than a half-century, the US has returned to the Moon,” NASA Administrator Invoice Nelson stated shortly after the 14-foot-tall lander efficiently reached the lunar floor. “At present is a day that reveals the facility and promise of NASA’s business partnerships.”
Whereas orbiting the Moon, Odysseus snapped an image of the Bel’kovich crater.
Odysseus’ Terrain Relative Navigation digicam captured this picture of the Bel’kovich Ok crater within the Moon’s northern equatorial highlands.It’s an approximate 50 km diameter crater with mountains within the middle, made when the crater was fashioned.(21FEB2024 1750 CST) pic.twitter.com/0egu0NOrKP
— Intuitive Machines (@Int_Machines) February 21, 2024
The lander comprises six NASA analysis gadgets, together with gear for analyzing lunar soil and the electron plasma.
The Odysseus additionally carries a piece by American artist Jeff Koons – a clear field with 125 stainless-steel spherical sculptures representing the phases of the Moon.
Only a couple hours away from the launch at 1AM EST Feb 14 of my artworks Moon Phases on Intuitive Machines’ IM-1 mission. The photographs seize the Nova-C lunar lander being encapsulated on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. I’m honored to have the primary approved art work on the Moon. pic.twitter.com/RpuSjbr7de
— Jeff Koons (@JeffKoons) February 13, 2024
The US stopped sending landers on the Moon after the Apollo 17 mission concluded in December 1972.
Final month, NASA introduced that its Artemis II mission – a crewed lunar flyby – has been delayed till September 2025. The return of astronauts on the Moon is now anticipated in September 2026.
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