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Odysseus is the primary spacecraft constructed by a non-public firm to land on the lunar floor.
The USA has landed on the Moon for the primary time in additional than half a century with a spacecraft constructed and operated by a Texas-based personal firm.
Odysseus, an unmanned robotic lander constructed with NASA funding by Houston-based Intuitive Machines, landed close to the moon's south pole at about 23:23 GMT, the corporate introduced in a webcast on Thursday.
The profitable touchdown was adopted by a tense ultimate descent, throughout which flight controllers needed to swap to an unused touchdown system after an issue arose with the spacecraft's autonomous navigation system.
NASA Administrator Invoice Nelson described the touchdown as a “triumph for humanity” and a “new journey in science, innovation and American management in house.”
“Right this moment, for the primary time in half a century, America returns to the Moon,” Nelson stated in a video posted on social media.
“Right this moment for the primary time within the historical past of humanity, a industrial firm, an American firm, initiated and led the journey there. And in the present day displays the ability and promise of NASA's industrial partnerships.
Right this moment, for the primary time in half a century, America returns to the Moon 🇺🇸.
On the eighth day of a journey of 1.25 lakh miles, @Int_Machines Loved the touchdown of a lifetime.
What an achievement for IM, @spacex , @NASA,
What an excellent victory that is for humanity.
Odysseus has captured the moon. pic.twitter.com/JwtCQmMS2K
– Invoice Nelson (@SenBillNelson) 23 February 2024
Intuitive Machines' mission, the primary profitable touchdown on the Moon by a non-public agency, follows an unsuccessful bid by Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic Know-how final month, which ended with its lander crashing again to Earth.
The final time an American spacecraft landed on the Moon was in 1972 when Apollo 17 introduced astronauts Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt to the lunar floor.
Other than America, solely 4 international locations have efficiently landed on the Moon.
Japan final month grew to become the fifth nation to attain the feat when it landed its so-called “Moon Sniper” spacecraft on the lunar floor, following within the footsteps of the previous Soviet Union, China and India.
Odysseus was launched from Florida on February 15 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
The hexagon-shaped spacecraft carried NASA's scientific devices, together with cameras and an instrument to research clouds of charged mud particles, and cargo flown on behalf of personal prospects, together with the most recent insulating jacket material produced by Columbia Sportswear. Included.
Odysseus, which is photo voltaic powered, is anticipated to function on the lunar floor for per week earlier than lunar evening deactivates the lander.