The private American probe Odysseus, which was on the moon for a week, was put into hibernation at the end of its main mission. But the company that developed it, Intuitive Machines, hopes to turn it back on at the end of the lunar night.
“Goodnight, Odie,” the Texas startup said on X, calling the device by its nickname. “We hope to hear from you again.” On February 22, Odysseus became the first private spacecraft to land on the moon and the first American spacecraft since the end of the Apollo program in 1972.
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Due to an error in its navigation system, it approached the lunar surface too quickly during its descent, breaking at least one of its six feet. Once placed, it tilted and found that it was at about a 30 degree tilt. However, some of its solar panels were still able to function and provide it with energy.
Since then, Odysseus has transmitted photos and scientific data, particularly those collected by NASA instruments on board. The lander's mission was originally scheduled to last about seven days before the lunar night descended over the South Pole, the region where Odysseus landed.
Icy cold ahead
But on Wednesday, Steve Altemus, head of Intuitive Machines, said the company would try to contact the probe again “in two or three weeks,” once the sun appears high enough above the horizon again.
However, it is very uncertain whether the device, especially its batteries, will survive the upcoming freezing cold. Even if the Japanese lunar probe SLIM succeeded this month. Both NASA and Intuitive Machines called Odysseus' trip to the moon a success.
“Farewell broadcast”
Odysseus is the probe that landed furthest south on the Moon, an area of particular interest to major powers because there is water there in the form of ice that could be exploited. NASA would like to explore this region with such robots before sending its astronauts there as part of its Artemis missions.
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“Before his energy was exhausted, Odysseus sent a fitting farewell broadcast,” Intuitive Machines said Thursday, attaching to his message an image of the moon’s surface taken last week with Earth in the background. “A subtle reminder of humanity’s presence in the universe,” the company said.
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