On February 22, 2024, the Intuitive Machines (IM) spacecraft named Odysseus became the first American craft to successfully make a soft moon landing since the final Apollo mission in 1972. Odysseus came to rest near the South Polar region where it is hoped that ice and therefore water will be found.
It took a hair-raising 15 minutes for the IM Nova Control located down the street from the Johnson Space Center to verify through a U.K. based radio telescope that Odysseus was indeed transmitting signals indicating a successful landing. A spontaneous chorus of cheers erupted from the IM employees standing by for word of the spacecraft’s fate.
Described as a “high risk high reward’ initiative, it was the first success for NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. In contrast to the Apollo Program in which NASA transported the astronauts and all their supplies to the Moon, CLPS has American commercial companies be responsible for transporting all the many supplies required to sustain the Artemis Program, from habitat to food to lunar rovers.
Odysseus, named for the Greek hero of Homer’s epic poem “The Odyssey,” has 12 science and technology investigations on board that will be sending their results back to Houston for evaluation and application to future CLPS and Artemis missions including crewed trips to the Moon beginning in 2026.
Last month, the first CLPS moon landing mission constructed by Pittsburgh-based Astrobotics and named Peregrine developed an anomaly while in Earth orbit and was destroyed falling back to Earth.
Lunar Surface Day One Update
Odysseus is alive and well. Flight controllers are communicating and commanding the vehicle to download science data. The lander has good telemetry and solar charging. We continue to learn more about the vehicle’s specific information (Lat/Lon), overall health, and attitude (orientation). Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus will participate in a press conference later today to discuss this historic moment. Press conference information will be coordinated with NASA and published shortly.
