The US Lander Odysseus has achieved a historic milestone with its successful touchdown on the lunar surface.

Intuitive Machines, a US company, has achieved a significant milestone in space exploration by successfully landing its Odysseus lunar lander on the Moon’s surface. The descent was a nerve-wracking experience, slowing down from a speed of 1.8 kilometers (1.1 miles) per second after traversing a vast 400,000-kilometer-wide expanse. The precision required to bring the lander to a complete stop was remarkable. Upon landing, communication was lost, rendering Odysseus a fully autonomous system. For a tense fifteen minutes following the expected contact time with the lander, there was only silence. Apart from addressing any pre-descent malfunctions, mission control had little recourse in the event of a mishap, except to wait for a signal. Finally, a faint whisper was detected, signaling a successful landing.

Your order was delivered… to the Moon! 📦@Int_Machines‘ uncrewed lunar lander landed at 6:23pm ET (2323 UTC), bringing NASA science to the Moon’s surface. These instruments will prepare us for future human exploration of the Moon under #Artemis. pic.twitter.com/sS0poiWxrU

— NASA (@NASA) February 22, 2024

At 17:38 CT, the landing vehicle, known as ‘Odie’ by its team, successfully landed in an impact crater named Malapart A, approximately 300 kilometers (180 miles) away from the lunar south pole.

However, the journey leading up to the touchdown was not without challenges, as the laser-guidance system of the vehicle experienced a malfunction.

Fortunately, NASA had included an operational lidar among its payloads for this private mission, which was utilized to guide the vehicle to its intended landing site.

Just over fifty years ago, NASA concluded its Apollo program missions and departed from the lunar surface. Today’s accomplishment signifies a remarkable return to the Moon for the United States, in a manner that few could have anticipated.

Intuitive Machines’ Odysseus marks the beginning of a new era in space exploration. Established in 2013, Intuitive Machines was among the select few companies chosen by NASA to provide payload services for government-funded projects.

This successful mission is just the start of many more to follow. NASA has equipped Odysseus with six instruments, including a laser retroreflector, a low-frequency radio receiver, and a unique fuel level tracking device in the propellant tank.

In the upcoming weeks, Odysseus and its rover will conduct experiments powered by the diminishing sunlight. These experiments will aid NASA in its mission to land humans on the Moon in the near future.

Congratulations, Odysseus! This achievement is a significant milestone we have all been eagerly anticipating.

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