Private U.S. Lunar Lander Nears Historic Moon Landing
Highlights:
- A private U.S. lunar lander, operated by Intuitive Machines, successfully entered a low orbit around the moon.
- This achievement sets the stage for an upcoming attempt to land on the lunar surface.
- If successful, this landing would mark the United States’ return to lunar exploration since the conclusion of NASA’s Apollo program in 1972.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Excitement is mounting as a private U.S. lunar lander achieved a significant milestone, successfully reaching the moon and entering a low orbit on Wednesday. This sets the stage for an ambitious attempt to make history by landing on the moon’s gray, dusty surface.
If all goes well, this smooth touchdown would mark the United States’ return to lunar exploration for the first time since NASA’s Apollo program concluded in 1972. Moreover, the company behind this mission, Intuitive Machines, stands poised to make groundbreaking history as the first private entity to accomplish a successful moon landing.
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The journey began last week when Intuitive Machines launched its lunar lander, affectionately named Odysseus. In a tense moment, the lander fired its engine on the far side of the moon while communication with Earth was temporarily lost. Flight controllers anxiously awaited confirmation as the spacecraft reestablished contact, revealing whether it had successfully entered lunar orbit or veered off course.
Thankfully, Intuitive Machines announced that Odysseus had indeed achieved lunar orbit, carrying a payload of experiments from NASA and various other clients. This mission aligns with NASA’s broader initiative to catalyze lunar exploration and development, with the space agency investing $118 million to facilitate its experiments on this historic mission.
The next critical step is scheduled for Thursday, as controllers plan to maneuver the lander’s orbit from just under 60 miles (92 kilometers) to a mere 6 miles (10 kilometers) above the lunar surface. This delicate operation, occurring once again on the moon’s far side, precedes the daring touchdown maneuver near the moon’s south pole. Despite the challenges posed by the rugged lunar terrain, characterized by craters and cliffs, this region holds immense promise for future lunar exploration. Scientists believe that the permanently shadowed craters in this area may harbor reserves of frozen water, a crucial resource for sustaining future manned missions.
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However, the journey to the moon is fraught with peril, as evidenced by the numerous failed missions and the debris scattered across its surface from previous landing attempts. Just last month, another U.S. company, Astrobotic Technology, encountered setbacks when its lunar lander failed to reach its destination due to a fuel leak.
As the world watches with bated breath, the success of Intuitive Machines’ historic mission could mark a pivotal moment in the ongoing saga of lunar exploration, paving the way for future endeavors and expanding humanity’s understanding of our celestial neighbor.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
A private U.S. lunar lander reached the moon and eased into a low orbit Wednesday, a day before it will attempt an even greater feat — landing on the gray, dusty surface. https://t.co/ZWbYm27AV0
— ABC News (@ABC) February 21, 2024
