- Intuitive Machines’ robotic spacecraft Odysseus shared its first images shortly after landing on the Moon.
- The images transmitted by Odysseus on February 16 include data obtained from the lunar surface and provide information that will contribute to NASA’s Artemis program.
- Odysseus’ mission includes six NASA experiments and technology demonstrations and six special payloads. This mission is being performed as part of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services program.
Houston-based Intuitive Machines company shared the first photos with an Earth view from the robotic spacecraft Odysseus, which landed on the Moon.
According to the statement made by Intuitive Machines, the images sent by Odysseus on February 16 include the Earth visible in the background from a point close to the surface of the Moon. These photographs contain data taken from the Moon’s surface that will contribute to NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to establish a crewed base near the Moon’s south pole.
Odysseus’ mission is to carry six special payloads through six NASA experiments and technology demonstrations. This mission is being carried out as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, which aims to place scientific instruments on the Moon.
“Flight controllers completed the commissioning of the IM-1 mission engine by successfully igniting the first liquid methane and liquid oxygen engine in space,” Intuitive Machines said. “This engine ignition included a full-thrust main stage engine burn and throttle profile required for the Moon landing,” he said.
Odysseus’s landing attempt is of great importance as no private spacecraft has ever made a soft landing on the Moon before. In addition, Odysseus’ liquid methane-liquid oxygen combination is also used in the Raptor engines of SpaceX’s new giant rocket Starship. This is considered a significant step that could support future manned Moon and Mars missions.
Compiled by: Ayça Ayaz
