US Odysseus Update: Moon Lander Tilted Over on the Lunar Surface

Intuitive Machines' Odysseus lunar lander tilted on its sideways a day after its landing. Initially, the US's Odysseus spacecraft landed successfully on the moon's lunar surface after some navigational and communication issues.

Odysseus Had Tipped Over Sideways

On February 23, 2023, Intuitive Machines, the company that developed the Odysseus spacecraft, said on its X page that the lander had tipped sideways on the lunar surface but was alive and well.

Following its historic landing on the moon's surface after years, Odysseus had some unexpected twists. Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus said that certain human-made errors might have led to the failure of the lander's laser-based range finders.

Great Save From the Engineers

The design engineers found the error before the spacecraft's landing and saved it from a potential crash. Also, the insiders have said that the lander has tipped on one of its feet, causing it to land on its side.

Now, the spacecraft is reportedly fine and is sending signals from its radar. It is also quite close to the intended landing site, closer to the moon's south pole region.

Intuitive Machines stated that the communication between the lander is fine, and commands are being sent and received. The company is now aiming to get the first images from the moon's surface.

On their X page, Intuitive Machines said, "Odysseus is alive and well. Flight controllers are communicating and commanding the vehicle to download science data. The lander has good telemetry and solar charging.

We continue to learn more about the vehicle's specific information (Lat/Lon), overall health, and attitude (orientation). Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus will later participate in a press conference to discuss this historic moment. Press conference information will be coordinated with NASA and published shortly."