Intuitive Machines’ robotic spacecraft, Athena, landed on the moon but quickly died due to tipping onto its side, rendering its solar panels unable to charge. Despite some milestones being achieved before its demise, the lander faced challenges in meeting its science goals. This disappointment follows the previous failure of Odysseus, Intuitive Machines’ first lunar lander. The company’s stock prices plummeted following the news, indicating investor concern.
On a more positive note, Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander successfully landed and is conducting experiments on the moon, showing that lunar missions with cheaper costs are viable. NASA’s CLPS program aims to foster a lunar economy by contracting private companies to deliver science instruments. While several past missions have faced challenges, the hope is that lessons learned will contribute to future success.
Athena carried various payloads, including a drill to search for water ice in the lunar soil. Despite the setback, other instruments on board were able to collect valuable data before the lander’s malfunction. The ultimate goal of the CLPS program is to enable sustainable human presence on the moon by utilizing resources like water.
The failure of Athena highlights the risks associated with commercial lunar missions but also underscores the potential for advancements in lunar exploration. As NASA evaluates future missions and investments, the focus remains on leveraging private industry expertise to pave the way for continued lunar exploration and potential economic opportunities.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image of the presented article.
