Watch Odysseus try the primary American moon touchdown since 1972

The mission, formally often known as IM-1, would have carried scientific cargo to assist NASA be taught extra in regards to the lunar floor earlier than NASA's Artemis program returns folks to the Moon in 2025. Is. It carries a laser retroreflector array to assist different spacecraft make precision landings. Radio navigation beacons to offer geolocation information to landers, rovers, and finally astronauts.

If Odysseus lands on the lunar floor, will probably be the primary privately owned spacecraft to realize that objective. The astrobotic Peregrine lander, launched by United Launch Alliance final month, failed to succeed in the moon after a propulsion system malfunction.