Photo credit: arstechnica.com

Athena’s Moon Landing: Challenges and Insights from the Recent Attempt

The Athena spacecraft approached the Moon’s surface with a degree of confidence, though not without challenges. On its journey, the onboard software successfully identified nearby craters, despite the terrain being cast in elongated shadows. Unfortunately, a critical malfunction occurred: the altimeter was out of order.

This malfunction meant that, while Athena was aware of its position in relation to the lunar surface, it lacked the necessary data to gauge its altitude accurately. This oversight proved significant. Upon landing, the privately developed spacecraft struck a plateau on the Moon, which led to it toppling over and skidding across the regolith. The lander rotated at least once or twice before finally resting in a small, shadowy crater.

Steve Altemus, CEO of Intuitive Machines, described the landing process as reminiscent of “sliding into second base,” highlighting the unexpected nature of the landing outcome.

Reflecting on a Tough Week

This week presented a series of trials for Altemus and his team, who aim to pioneer the lunar economy. The stakes were particularly high as this was their second attempt at lunar landing, following the successful landing of Odysseus, which marked a milestone as the first private spacecraft to achieve a soft lunar landing last year, despite also tipping over.

In many respects, this mission’s outcome felt even more disheartening. As Athena skidded across the surface, it stirred up regolith, which then settled onto the lander’s solar panels—these panels already positioned at an awkward angle due to the lander’s fall. With power reserves dwindling rapidly, Intuitive Machines quickly realized that their craft’s situation was precarious.

“We knew we had slid into a slightly shadowed crater, and the temperature was very cold,” Altemus explained. “The solar arrays had regolith on them, and they weren’t charging sufficiently to power the heaters needed to maintain a viable operating temperature.”

The circumstances surrounding Athena’s landing underscore the complexities and unpredictability involved in lunar exploration, emphasizing the importance of reliable technology and innovative problem-solving in the quest to establish a permanent presence on the Moon. As the journey continues, lessons learned from this mission will undoubtedly inform future endeavors in lunar exploration and habitation.

Source
arstechnica.com