The Odysseus lander from Intuitive Machines has transmitted additional images capturing its historic journey to the moon. Having landed about 190 miles from the moon's south pole on February 22, Odysseus secured its place as the first private spacecraft to softly land on Earth's closest celestial neighbor, a feat not achieved by an American vehicle since the final Apollo mission in 1972.
Intuitive Machines shared three new photos of Odysseus' descent on February 27. These images represent the closest observations of the moon's south pole region from any spaceflight mission. The pictures were taken approximately 30 meters above the lunar surface, with the lander's main engine throttling down from speeds exceeding 24,000 mph.
Obtaining these images proved challenging, with a delay in their reception or posting, likely due to Odysseus tilting onto its side during or after touchdown, complicating communication with the lander. Time is of the essence for Odysseus, designated as the IM-1 mission. Originally, Intuitive Machines expected to lose contact with the solar-powered spacecraft as the sun sets over its landing site. However, there is now a slight extension, with flight controllers working on determining the remaining battery life, potentially allowing for an additional 10-20 hours of communication.
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