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Thu, March 6, 2025

Commercial moon lander ready for descent to lunar surface


Published on 2025-03-06 02:42:19 - MSN
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  • Intuitive Machines' Athena moon lander will deploy two small rovers, a rocket-powered "hopper," and use a powerful drill to probe the lunar surface.

The article from MSN discusses the upcoming lunar landing of a commercial spacecraft named Odysseus, operated by Intuitive Machines. This mission marks a significant milestone as it is the first U.S. lunar landing attempt in over 50 years, aiming to land near the moon's south pole. The spacecraft, launched on February 15, 2023, from Cape Canaveral, Florida, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, has successfully completed several critical maneuvers including engine tests and trajectory corrections. It is now preparing for its final descent to the lunar surface, scheduled for February 22, 2023. This mission not only represents a step forward in commercial space exploration but also carries scientific instruments to study the lunar environment, contributing to NASA's broader Artemis program goals.

Read the Full MSN Article at:
[ https://www.msn.com/en-us/technology/space-exploration/commercial-moon-lander-ready-for-descent-to-lunar-surface/ar-AA1AlPgy ]
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