Intuitive Machines and NASA hailed the historic mission as a success.
Odysseus, the first U.S. spacecraft to land on the moon since 1972, “went to sleep” as the lunar night began. But while the first private company’s mission to land on the moon is coming to an end, Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Artems told reporters it hopes to “wake it up” when the sun comes out again in about three weeks.
The historic mission was hailed as a success by Intuitive Machines and NASA, although it encountered multiple problems along the way, including landing when the unmanned probe tipped over as it reached the surface.
However, before two weeks of lunar night enveloped Odysseus’ lunar lander, the robotic spacecraft sent back one final signal from space. It depicts the pitted gray surface that stretches to the moon’s horizon. If you look closely, you can see a crescent-shaped shadow of Earth in the distance.
Before his power runs out, Odysseus makes a fitting farewell teleportation. This February 22 image received today shows the crescent Earth in the background, a subtle reminder of humanity’s presence in the universe.
Good night, Odie. We hope to keep in touch with you… pic.twitter.com/RwOWsH1TSz
— Intuitive Machines (@Int_Machines) February 29, 2024
“Before running out of energy, Odysseus completed a fitting farewell transmission,” Intuitive Machines wrote on X. They added, “This February 22 image received today shows in the background The crescent-shaped Earth, a subtle reminder of humanity’s presence in the universe… Good night, Audi. We hope to hear from you again.”
Meanwhile, Intuitive Machines CEO told reporters at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on February 29, “The vehicle data that we get is a lot of guidance, navigation control data, all propulsion data, all performance data. The vehicle data will Allowing us to completely rebuild the mission.”
“What we’re going to do is tuck Audie in on a cold moonlit night and see if we can wake him up when the sun is at noon,” he said, about three weeks later.
Intuitive Machines officials weren’t sure whether the batteries would be able to deliver the power generated by the rover’s solar panels after the ensuing overnight plunge in temperatures, but “why not give it a try?” Mr. Altmos asked.
NASA plans to return astronauts to the moon later this decade and paid Intuitive Machines about $120 million for the mission as part of a plan to delegate cargo missions to the private sector and stimulate the lunar economy.
Odysseus carries a suite of NASA instruments designed to improve scientific understanding of the lunar south pole, where the space agency plans to send astronauts later this decade.
