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Houston-based aerospace company Intuitive Machines, which embarked on an ambitious eight-day journey to the Moon with its Odysseus lander, is marking a pivotal moment in private space exploration as it nears the moon.
The mission, under a $118 million contract with NASA, aims to achieve what previous attempts by private entities have failed to do: execute a soft landing on the lunar surface.
In a bid to re-establish American presence on the Moon, Intuitive Machines successfully launched its Nova-C class lunar lander, nicknamed Odysseus, early Thursday morning aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
This launch signifies the second mission of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, which aims to facilitate regular cargo deliveries to the Moon for both governmental and commercial purposes.
The Odysseus lander, affectionately referred to as “Odie,” is set to touch down at Malapert A crater, a site near the lunar south pole, covering a distance of 43 miles wide and approximately 186 miles from the pole.
This location, rich in lunar highland material similar to the Apollo 16 landing site, holds strategic significance, being one of the regions considered for NASA’s crewed Artemis 3 mission.
Initial reports from Intuitive Machines indicate a smooth start to the mission, with Odysseus successfully establishing communication with the mission operations centre in Houston and reaching its intended Earth orbit approximately 48 minutes post-launch.
The lander is carrying a dozen payloads, including six for NASA, with objectives ranging from scientific investigations to technology demonstrations.
Despite the promising beginning, the mission faces numerous challenges ahead. Intuitive Machines has outlined 16 major objectives, including autonomous commissioning, trajectory correction manoeuvres, and executing a soft vertical landing on the lunar surface.
Steve Altemus, CEO of Intuitive Machines, acknowledged the daunting task ahead while emphasising the historic opportunity to return the United States to the lunar surface.
The Odysseus lander is expected to attempt a landing at a velocity of 3.3 feet per second, with flight controllers anticipating a 15-second delay before confirming its successful touchdown on February 22.
Following the landing, the company and its partners will conduct science investigations and technology demonstrations for approximately seven days before the onset of the lunar night.
This mission represents a significant milestone in lunar exploration, as private firms have yet to achieve a soft landing on the Moon.
While national space agencies from India, the United States, Russia, China, and Japan have accomplished this feat, private entities like Intuitive Machines are poised to carve their place in space exploration history with successful missions like Odysseus.
(With inputs from agencies)
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