US returns to surface on moon 2/22 6:24pm ET

[LadyStanley]

Watch live: Odysseus attempts first U.S. moon landing since 1972

A robotic lunar lander launched by a private U.S. company is initially scheduled to reach the moon at 5:30 p.m. ET, but was delayed until 6:24 p.m.

news.yahoo.com

Watch live

Click to read more...

 

[LadyStanley]

Confirmation of down and communication

 

[JMCx4]

Landing delayed, but Mission Control has now confirmed comms from the lander on the surface of the Moon. System network trying to link with a more powerful station on Earth to establish a video feed from the lander. Nothing's easy in this biz, but at least IM-1 has exceeded the success of recent Japanese lander missions.

 

[JMCx4]

Radio silence continues from the operators of the Nova-C Odysseus lander. No news is not always good news.

 

[LadyStanley]

Private US spacecraft is on its side on the moon, company says

A private U.S. lunar lander tilted over at touchdown and ended up on its side near the moon’s south pole, hampering communications, company officials said Friday. Intuitive Machines, the company that built the six-footed lander, initially said the Odysseus lander was upright after touchdown...

news.yahoo.com

Apparently the lander "tripped" when it landed and is on its side, possibly leaning against rock/boulder.

 

[JMCx4]

Whoopsy! I know how Odysseus feels.

 

[JMCx4]

Sure, kick them while Odie's down ... Intuitive Machines’ stock sinks 32% after Odysseus moon lander falls on its side

 

[JMCx4]

According to this article from @LadyStanley's go-to science source: "All payloads except the one static art installation, though — Jeff Koons’ Moon Phases sculptures — are on the upturned side."

"One small step for man ... one giant face-plant for art!"

 

[JMCx4]

From: Reuters.com >Technology > Space

Moon lander Odysseus mission expected to end Tuesday morning, 5 days after touchdown

February 26, 20243:09 PM CST
Updated 21 min ago

Feb 26 (Reuters) - Communications with the private U.S. moon lander Odysseus are expected to cease on Tuesday, effectively cutting short its mission five days after touchdown, the company behind the spacecraft, Intuitive Machines (LUNR.O), said on Monday. ...

In an update on the status of the mission posted online on Monday, the Houston-based company said: "Flight controllers intend to collect data until the lander’s solar panels are no longer exposed to light. Based on Earth and Moon positioning, we believe flight controllers will continue to communicate with Odysseus until Tuesday morning."

 

[LadyStanley]

https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/28/world/odysseus-spacecraft-first-images-moon-surface-scn/index.html

Some data and pictures

 

[JMCx4]

https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/28/world/odysseus-spacecraft-first-images-moon-surface-scn/index.html

Some data and pictures

So either IM's image download process is FIFO, or they are withholding post-landing/tumble imagery because they saw something that Earth just isn't ready for ...

 

[JianYang]

Fake