In an unprecedented achievement for the private sector, Intuitive Machines’ unmanned lunar lander, “Odysseus,” has transmitted the first photographs from the Moon’s surface following a historic landing. The spacecraft’s touchdown at Earth’s celestial neighbor, after a five-decade gap in American lunar missions, represents a significant milestone in space exploration.
“Odysseus continues to communicate with flight controllers in Nova Control from the lunar surface,” Intuitive Machines announced in a statement shared on the social media platform X on Monday.
Accompanying the announcement were two images: one depicting the hexagon-shaped spacecraft during its descent, and another captured just 35 seconds after it toppled over, revealing the rugged terrain of the Malapert A impact crater.
Intuitive Machines’ cargo lander, “Odysseus,” captured and transmitted these historic images over the weekend as it settled into its lunar destination. The company’s pioneering IM-1 mission has made history by becoming the first privately developed spacecraft to achieve a soft landing on the lunar surface.
Initially reported to be standing upright, “Odysseus” encountered a setback when company executives revealed that the spacecraft may have caught its landing gear sideways upon touchdown, causing it to tip over. Despite this unexpected turn of events, “Odysseus” continues to send valuable data back to Earth.
Intuitive Machines anticipates that “Odysseus” will remain operational until Tuesday morning, at which point its solar panels will no longer receive sunlight exposure.
However, the news of the lunar landing did not translate favorably for Intuitive Machines’ stock, as it experienced a 35% decline in Monday trading, closing at $6.27 per share.
