Private U.S. Lunar Lander Aims for Historic Moon Landing
In a groundbreaking mission, a private U.S. lunar lander, named Odysseus, has successfully reached the moon and entered a low orbit. This achievement sets the stage for an even more significant feat – a historic landing on the gray, dusty surface of the moon. If successful, this mission would mark the first time since 1972 that the United States has set foot on the moon and would also make Intuitive Machines the first private company to achieve a moon landing.
The journey began last week when Intuitive Machines launched its lander into space. The lander fired its engine on the back side of the moon while out of contact with Earth, leaving flight controllers at the company’s Houston headquarters anxiously awaiting confirmation of its status. Finally, the spacecraft emerged from the dark side of the moon, and Intuitive Machines received the news they had been waiting for – Odysseus was in orbit and ready to begin its mission.
Odysseus is carrying experiments from NASA and other clients as part of a NASA program aimed at kickstarting the lunar economy. NASA has invested $118 million to have its experiments conducted on this mission. The success of this private lunar lander not only opens up new possibilities for scientific research but also paves the way for future commercial ventures on the moon.
The next crucial maneuver for Odysseus will take place on Thursday when controllers will lower its orbit from just under 60 miles to 6 miles above the lunar surface. This maneuver will occur on the moon’s far side and is necessary to prepare for a touchdown near the moon’s south pole. While this location presents challenges due to its craters and cliffs, it is considered prime real estate for future astronauts. The permanently shadowed craters in this region are believed to contain frozen water, a valuable resource for future lunar missions.
However, the moon’s surface is littered with the wreckage of failed landings, and not all missions have made it as far as the lunar surface. Just last month, another U.S. company, Astrobotic Technology, attempted to send a lander to the moon but encountered a fuel leak that prevented it from reaching its destination. The lander ultimately crashed back through the Earth’s atmosphere and burned up over the Pacific Ocean. Despite these setbacks, companies like Astrobotic and Intuitive Machines remain determined to continue their efforts to deliver payloads to the moon.
Looking back at the history of lunar landings, several countries have achieved significant milestones. The Soviet Union’s Luna 9 became the first spacecraft to successfully touch down on the moon in 1966, followed by the United States’ Surveyor 1 four months later. The Apollo program, led by NASA, solidified the United States’ dominance in space exploration with the famous moon landing of Apollo 11 in 1969. Twelve astronauts explored the lunar surface over six missions before the program concluded with Apollo 17 in 1972.
China emerged as a major player in lunar exploration in recent years. In 2013, China became the third country to successfully land on the moon with its rover named Yutu. In 2019, China achieved another milestone by landing the Yutu-2 rover on the moon’s unexplored far side, a remarkable achievement. China’s ambitious plans include sample return missions and sending astronauts to the moon by 2030, making them NASA’s biggest lunar rival.
Russia has had its share of successes and failures in lunar landings. While their Luna 24 mission in 1976 successfully landed on the moon and returned moon rocks to Earth, their recent attempt in 2023 with the Luna 25 spacecraft ended in failure when it crashed into the lunar surface.
India faced initial setbacks when their first lander crashed into the moon in 2019. However, they regrouped and successfully launched the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft in 2023, making India the fourth country to achieve a lunar landing.
Japan joined the list of lunar landers in January when its spacecraft touched down on the moon. Although it landed on the wrong side, compromising its ability to generate solar power, it managed to capture valuable pictures and conduct scientific research before falling silent during the long lunar night.
Private companies have also made attempts to reach the moon. In 2019, Israel’s privately funded lander, Beresheet, crashed into the lunar surface. In 2023, a Japanese entrepreneur’s company, ispace, launched a lunar lander that also met a similar fate. Despite these setbacks, companies like Astrobotic Technology and Intuitive Machines remain committed to future moon deliveries.
The successful arrival of Intuitive Machines’ lunar lander on the moon marks a significant milestone in space exploration. It not only brings the United States back into the lunar game but also showcases the potential for private companies to contribute to scientific research and commercial ventures on the moon. As we
