The commercially and privately constructed Athena spacecraft is returning data to NASA scientists on Earth, they announced Thursday. The craft did not land exactly as expected and Its exact location is unclear.
The private lunar lander, Odysseus, operated by Intuitive Machines, has successfully transmitted data back to Earth following its landing on the Moon, though the exact location and orientation of the spacecraft remain uncertain. Launched on February 15, 2023, from Cape Canaveral, Florida, Odysseus aimed to be the first U.S. spacecraft to land on the Moon since the Apollo missions, and the first by a private company. Despite initial concerns about the lander's stability due to potential tipping or sideways landing, the mission has been deemed a success as it continues to send back scientific data. The lander's solar panels are functioning, and communication with Earth has been established, although the specifics of its position are still being assessed. This mission marks a significant step in NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, which seeks to foster commercial deliveries to the Moon.