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Intuitive Machines’ Second Lunar Lander Faces Early Challenges

The second lunar lander from Intuitive Machines has successfully made contact with the lunar surface, although concerns about its orientation echo issues experienced with its predecessor. The Athena vehicle, part of the Intuitive Machines IM-2 mission, landed approximately 100 miles from the Moon’s south pole. However, uncertainty remains regarding its upright position, which could significantly influence the mission’s expected duration and outcomes.

During a post-landing news conference, Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus expressed concerns about the lander’s orientation. “We don’t believe we’re in the correct attitude on the surface of the Moon yet again,” he stated. The team plans to verify this by analyzing images from a lunar reconnaissance orbiter, which will provide a clearer picture of Athena’s status in the coming days.

Despite these challenges, Altemus reported that the Athena lander is currently operational on the lunar surface, managing to communicate with the ground team on Earth. However, the lander is facing performance issues that could potentially reduce its ten-day mission lifespan. “We have taken some power conservation measures as a prudent approach to determine what objectives we can achieve as the mission progresses,” noted Altemus. He acknowledged that the situation is not ideal, as they are not receiving full power generation and communication capabilities.

Once the orientation issue is resolved, the IM-2 team will be able to assess the operational status of Athena’s scientific payloads and instruments. Among these is a specialized drill intended to seek out ice deposits, alongside a hopping drone named Grace, which aims to explore a permanently shadowed crater—an endeavor that would mark a first in lunar exploration.

Source
www.theverge.com