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Wednesday, Jul 16, 2025
Outside the box.
U.S. Returns to the Moon with First Private Lander in Over 50 Years
The U.S. has successfully landed a private spacecraft, built by Intuitive Machines, on the moon for the first time since NASA's Apollo program.
The lander, Odysseus, achieved touchdown on the lunar South Pole, albeit with a weaker-than-expected signal. The exact condition and location of the lander are yet to be confirmed.
Intuitive Machines CEO, Steve Altemus, celebrated the landing, despite communication difficulties. The company is working to stabilize the signal from the moon, which lies 250,000 miles away. The lander had a shaky descent into a boulder-filled area, requiring autonomous navigation to find a safe landing site.
NASA invested $118 million in the project, aiming to outsource lunar deliveries. The carbon fibre and titanium craft carried six NASA experiments to the moon's surface. Intuitive Machines has made history as the first private entity to achieve a lunar landing, a milestone previously reached by only five nations.
Japan, Russia, the U.S., China, and India have all completed lunar landings. Despite a failed attempt last month by Pittsburgh's Astrobotic Technology due to a fuel leak, the race for lunar exploration continues.
The solar-powered lander, positioned near the Malapert A crater, aims to operate for a week before succumbing to the harsh lunar night.
Payloads on the lander include NASA's tech experiments, a new insulating fabric by Columbia Sportswear, miniature moon sculptures by artist Jeff Koons, and cameras from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to document the descent.
Intuitive Machines CEO, Steve Altemus, celebrated the landing, despite communication difficulties. The company is working to stabilize the signal from the moon, which lies 250,000 miles away. The lander had a shaky descent into a boulder-filled area, requiring autonomous navigation to find a safe landing site.
NASA invested $118 million in the project, aiming to outsource lunar deliveries. The carbon fibre and titanium craft carried six NASA experiments to the moon's surface. Intuitive Machines has made history as the first private entity to achieve a lunar landing, a milestone previously reached by only five nations.
Japan, Russia, the U.S., China, and India have all completed lunar landings. Despite a failed attempt last month by Pittsburgh's Astrobotic Technology due to a fuel leak, the race for lunar exploration continues.
The solar-powered lander, positioned near the Malapert A crater, aims to operate for a week before succumbing to the harsh lunar night.
Payloads on the lander include NASA's tech experiments, a new insulating fabric by Columbia Sportswear, miniature moon sculptures by artist Jeff Koons, and cameras from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to document the descent.
