US Spaceship Attempts Lunar Landing in Second Private-led Effort
In a groundbreaking mission, a US spaceship has embarked on a lunar landing, marking the second private-led effort of its kind this year. The spacecraft, named “Odysseus,” was launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida early Thursday morning. Intuitive Machines, the Houston-based company leading the mission known as “IM-1,” aims to achieve a soft touchdown on the Moon, becoming the first non-government entity to do so. This mission also seeks to land the first US robot on the lunar surface since the Apollo missions over five decades ago.
The hexagonal-shaped Nova-C lander, carrying Odysseus, took off atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket shortly after 1:00 am local time. The launch was initially scheduled for Wednesday but was postponed due to abnormal temperatures detected during the fueling process. However, NASA confirmed that the lander successfully lifted off, stating on their social media platform X, “Confirmed: The Nova-C lander has separated and continues its trip to the Moon.”
One of the key features of the lander is its new type of supercooled liquid methane and oxygen engine. This engine allows Odysseus to quickly reach its destination, avoiding prolonged exposure to the Van Allen belt, a region of high radiation surrounding the Earth. Trent Martin, a representative from Intuitive Machines, expressed excitement about the opportunity to return the United States to the Moon after such a long hiatus. He described it as a remarkable engineering feat that requires a hunger for exploration.
Despite the launch delay, the craft is still on track to reach its landing site, Malapert A, on February 22. This impact crater is located 300 kilometers (180 miles) from the Moon’s south pole. NASA’s long-term goal is to establish a presence on the Moon and utilize its resources, such as ice, for drinking water and rocket fuel as part of their Artemis program, which aims to facilitate human missions to Mars. To further this objective, NASA paid Intuitive Machines $118 million to transport science hardware that will help understand and mitigate environmental risks for future astronauts.
In addition to the scientific cargo, the lander carries a digital archive of human knowledge and 125 mini-sculptures of the Moon created by artist Jeff Koons. Once the lander touches down, the payloads are expected to operate for approximately seven days before lunar night sets in, rendering Odysseus inoperable until sunlight returns.
The IM-1 mission is part of a NASA initiative called Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS), which delegates cargo services to the private sector to stimulate a wider lunar economy and achieve cost savings. The first mission under this initiative, led by Astrobotic, encountered an engine anomaly that resulted in a fuel leak. The spacecraft, named Peregrine, was eventually brought back to Earth’s atmosphere to burn up.
Soft landing a robot on the Moon presents numerous challenges due to the treacherous terrain and the communication lag of several seconds. The absence of an atmosphere that could support parachutes requires the lander to rely solely on its thrusters for a controlled descent. While Astrobotic’s attempt was unsuccessful, two other private initiatives came close. The Israeli nonprofit-operated Beresheet crash-landed in 2019, and Japanese company ispace experienced a “hard landing” last year.
Currently, only five nations have successfully landed on the Moon: the Soviet Union, the United States, China, India, and Japan. China has achieved three successful landings since 2013, while India’s landing occurred in 2023. Japan’s most recent landing took place last month, although their robot faced power issues due to a faulty touchdown. Intuitive Machines has two more launches scheduled for this year, and Firefly Aerospace, another Texas-based company, has one as well. Astrobotic will have another opportunity in late 2024 when it carries a NASA rover to the Moon’s south pole.
NASA’s approach to space exploration has evolved over time. Unlike during the Cold War era when the agency had an unlimited budget and dictated contracts down to the smallest details, NASA now increasingly purchases services from commercial partners rather than hardware.
The IM-1 mission represents a significant step towards expanding human presence on the Moon and furthering our understanding of the lunar environment. With private companies taking the lead in lunar exploration, we are witnessing a new era of space exploration that promises exciting discoveries and advancements in our quest to explore the cosmos.
