Intuitive Machines’ robotic lander successfully touched down on the moon on February 22, marking a historic moment as the first privately developed spacecraft to achieve this feat. Named Odysseus, the Nova-C landed in the south polar region at 6:23 PM EST as part of the IM-1 mission. This accomplishment not only signifies the first privately developed spacecraft on the moon but also marks the first soft landing by an American spacecraft since the Apollo 17 mission in December 1972.
The Nova-C lander is the second lander to touch down on the lunar south pole after India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission, which worked for 14 days. ISRO is still studying the images generated by the Vikarm Lander and Pragyan Rover. Odysseus is programmed to study the Moon for 7 days and doesn’t include a rover.
Despite initial challenges with laser rangefinders on the lander, crucial for precise landings, Intuitive Machines overcame the obstacles by uploading a software patch. This patch enabled the use of a NASA Doppler lidar payload, originally intended for technology demonstration, to replace the malfunctioning rangefinders.
The mission, which initially experienced a two-hour delay to conduct an additional moon orbit, began with Odysseus lifting off on a SpaceX Falcon 9 on February 15. Following commissioning maneuvers to test the spacecraft’s engines, trajectory correction maneuvers, and low lunar orbit entry on February 21, the successful landing on the moon was achieved.
The IM-1 mission carried six NASA payloads under the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, emphasizing technology demonstrations. These included a navigation Doppler lidar, a navigation beacon, a radiofrequency fuel tank gauge, and a camera to study dust plumes. Non-NASA payloads featured contributions from Columbia Sportswear, Galactic Legacy Labs, Lonestar Data Holdings, the International Lunar Observatory Association, and an artwork by Jeff Koons named “Moon Phases.”
The landing also marked a contrast with previous private attempts, as three prior missions failed in their attempts to land on the moon. The successful outcome underscores the resilience and commitment of both NASA and industry partners, acknowledging the inherent challenges in lunar missions and expressing a long-term vision for sustained success in space exploration.
