A half a century after the Apollo mission, an American-built spacecraft has landed on the moon. The Odysseus robotic lander arrived in the south polar region of the moon at 6:23 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday. Various technical issues arose during the descent, but ultimately the spacecraft’s successful landing was confirmed. The mission to the moon was facilitated by Intuitive Machines, with NASA having paid them $118 million to deliver six instruments to the lunar surface as part of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services. The spacecraft also carried cargo from other customers, including an art project by Jeff Koons and an instrument built by students at a university in Florida.
Previous government space programs, as well as private companies like Ispace of Japan and Astrobotic Technology of Pittsburgh, have made unsuccessful attempts to land on the moon. Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus emphasized the importance of NASA’s cost-conscious approach and ambition during an interview before the launch. NASA hopes that the competitive economy of private providers will help to cut the costs of space exploration and innovate new capabilities. Other companies are expected to attempt moon landings in the future.
The Odysseus mission aimed to help NASA prepare for a future of renewed human presence on the moon, and the spacecraft itself carried several instruments that will perform reconnaissance on the lunar surface ahead of the return of NASA astronauts. The hope is that, by working with commercial companies, NASA will be able to explore space in a more cost-effective and innovative manner. While getting to the moon is a costly and challenging feat, both NASA and private companies are looking to the future to develop more sustainable and cost-efficient means of spaceflight.
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