Military Watch Forum
- Jan 26, 2024
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The Odysseus lunar lander, nicknamed "Odie" or IM-1, has become the first US-made spacecraft to touch down on the moon in 50 years. The lander is upright and starting to send data, according to Odie's developer, Intuitive Machines.
Engineers had to overcome navigation issues in order to pull off the highly difficult landing. Mission control resolved some communication problems after a tense wait, and now the lander's first images from the surface are expected soon.
Odie is the first commercial spacecraft to make touchdown on the moon. The milestone comes after a failed US lunar lander mission last month.
The Odysseus lander’s mission is designed to assess the lunar environment of the moon's south pole ahead of NASA’s current plan to return a crewed mission there in late 2026.
Engineers had to overcome navigation issues in order to pull off the highly difficult landing. Mission control resolved some communication problems after a tense wait, and now the lander's first images from the surface are expected soon.
Odie is the first commercial spacecraft to make touchdown on the moon. The milestone comes after a failed US lunar lander mission last month.
The Odysseus lander’s mission is designed to assess the lunar environment of the moon's south pole ahead of NASA’s current plan to return a crewed mission there in late 2026.
