[ad_1]
A Houston-based company has achieved a significant milestone by landing America’s first spacecraft on the Moon in 50 years. However, despite receiving a faint signal, it remains uncertain whether the lander Odysseus, developed by Intuitive Machines, is fully operational.
The latest lunar lander, Odysseus, successfully reached the moon on Wednesday, six days after launching from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. After entering low lunar orbit, the lander prepared for its planned touchdown in the evening.
The hexagon-shaped craft, part of a new fleet of unmanned commercial robots funded by NASA, approached the moon’s south pole at a slow speed of 4,000 miles (6,500 kilometers) per hour at 2323 GMT.
The company did not provide an immediate update on the lander’s status or exact whereabouts. Mission director Tim Crain said the team was assessing ways to enhance the single signal received from the lander, Odysseus, which conducted experiments on the moon for NASA, news agency AP reported.
“We can clearly confirm that our instrument is on the lunar surface,” he confirmed, as quoted by the AP.
The achievement follows another US company’s recent failed moonshot, highlighting the importance of demonstrating the potential of private industry in space exploration, last achieved by NASA during the Apollo 17 mission in 1972 Was.
Watch video: Odysseus spacecraft makes first commercial landing on the Moon
When was Odysseus launched?
Odysseus was launched on February 15 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and features a new type of supercooled liquid oxygen, liquid methane propulsion system that allows it to race to space in quick time.
Odysseus Landing Site
The landing site, Malapert A, is located within an impact crater 300 kilometers (180 mi) from the Moon’s south pole.
instruments played on odyssey
Odysseus is equipped with various instruments, including cameras to study changes in the lunar surface caused by spacecraft engine plumes and an instrument to analyze charged dust particle clouds formed during twilight caused by solar radiation.
In addition, it has a NASA landing system that uses laser pulses to accurately measure signal return time and frequency changes. This allows accurate estimation of the spacecraft’s velocity and distance from the surface, which is important to avoid potentially catastrophic impacts.
Run to know the south pole of the moon
India has achieved the distinction of being the first country to successfully land a spacecraft on the south pole of the Moon. India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission successfully landed near the south pole of the Moon on August 23, 2023. Odysseus landed in the crater Malapert A, just 300 kilometers from the moon’s south pole.
-with agency input
Unlock a world of benefits! From informative newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and personalized newsfeeds – it’s all here, just a click away! log in now!
Catch all business news, market news, breaking news events and latest news updates on Live Mint. Check out all the latest action on Budget 2024 here. Download Mint News app to get daily market updates.
more less
Published: Feb 23, 2024, 06:33 am IST
[ad_2]
