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 successfully touched down on the moon earlier today. However, the status of the spacecraft remains unknown, according to reports from the Associated Press.
While the lander’s landing was confirmed, details regarding its condition and the precise location of its touchdown are still unclear. The Athena lander, developed by Intuitive Machines, was equipped with an ice drill, a drone, and two rovers.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding its status, officials reported that Athena appeared to be able to communicate with its controllers. Tim Crain, the 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 in Texas.
The live stream of the mission was concluded by NASA and Intuitive Machines, who announced plans to hold a news conference later today to provide updates on Athena’s status.
This mission follows a recent successful landing by Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost, which touched down on the moon on Sunday. Blue Ghost’s landing marked a significant achievement, making Firefly Aerospace the first private company to successfully place a spacecraft on the moon without it crashing or landing sideways.
Last year, Intuitive Machines faced challenges with its Odysseus lander, which landed sideways, adding pressure to the current mission. Athena is the second lunar lander to reach the moon this week, following Blue Ghost’s successful touchdown.
As the situation develops, further information about Athena’s condition and mission objectives is anticipated during the upcoming news conference, according to the Associated Press.