Houston, TX – As anticipation builds for the unveiling of the first images from Odysseus on the moon’s surface, officials have revealed a potential setback for the moon lander.
On Friday afternoon, Intuitive Machines, a private company based in Houston, announced that they suspect Odysseus, affectionately nicknamed “Odie,” may have encountered a rock during its landing, causing it to tip over.
Despite this possible misstep, the majority of the lander’s payloads remain operational, with Odie running on 100% battery power thanks to its solar panels, according to the company.
Odysseus made history as the first U.S.-based craft to successfully land on the moon in over five decades. Additionally, it achieved another milestone by becoming the first commercial spacecraft to touch down on the moon in the country’s history.
Following its launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida last week, the craft entered lunar orbit before descending and touching down on the moon’s surface.
Although no images have been transmitted from the moon’s surface yet, Intuitive Machines did share a photo captured by Odysseus’s camera during its flight. The image was taken approximately six miles above a crater near the moon’s south pole and about 124 miles from the landing site.
Among the payloads onboard the lander are five NASA instruments designed to collect data on the moon’s surface, including a radio beacon for geolocation and cameras to monitor changes caused by interaction with the spacecraft’s engine plume, as well as various commercial cargo.
As officials work to resolve the issue with Odysseus tipping over, the world eagerly waits for the first captivating images that will provide a unique perspective from the moon’s surface.