Athena lunar lander successfully reached the moon, but mission controllers remain uncertain about its condition and exact landing location.
Mission controllers have confirmed that the Athena lunar lander has successfully touched down on the moon. However, the status of the spacecraft remains unknown, according to reports from the Associated Press.
The landing occurred earlier on Thursday, but ground controllers were unable to ascertain the condition of the Athena lander following its arrival. Additionally, the precise location of the craft’s landing site is still unclear.
Athena, which is owned by Intuitive Machines, was equipped with an ice drill, a drone, and two rovers. Despite the uncertainty surrounding its condition, the lander reportedly managed to establish communication with its controllers, as noted by officials.
Tim Crain, mission director and co-founder of Intuitive Machines, was heard instructing his team to “keep working on the problem,” even as the craft sent apparent “acknowledgments” back to the team based in Texas.
The live online stream of the mission was concluded by NASA and Intuitive Machines, who announced plans to hold a news conference later on Thursday to provide updates on Athena’s status.
This landing follows the recent success of Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost, which made its touchdown on the moon just days earlier on Sunday. The Blue Ghost mission marked a significant achievement, making Firefly Aerospace the first private company to successfully land a spacecraft on the moon without it crashing or tipping over.
Last year, Intuitive Machines faced challenges with its Odysseus lander, which landed sideways, adding pressure to the current mission. Athena is the second lunar craft to land this week, following the Blue Ghost’s successful landing.
“You all stuck the landing. We’re on the moon,” said Will Coogan, chief engineer for Firefly, celebrating the successful mission of the Blue Ghost.
As the situation develops, the space community eagerly awaits further updates regarding the Athena lunar lander and its mission objectives.
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