Private US moon lander still working after breaking leg and falling, but not for long
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The first private U.S. spacecraft to land on the moon broke a leg at touchdown before falling over, according to company officials who said Wednesday it was on the verge of losing power.
Intuitive Machines, the company that built the lander, released new photos Wednesday, six days after the landing, that showed at least one broken leg on the six-legged spacecraft. The lander came in too fast, skidded and tumbled over as it touched down near the moon’s south pole last Thursday, hampering communications and power. It was supposed to operate for at least a week.
CEO Steve Altemus said the lander, named Odysseus, was still alive and generating solar power but expected to go silent soon. Late Wednesday night, the company said the lander might linger into Thursday.
When the end comes, Altemus said, flight controllers would “tuck Odie in for the cold night of the moon” so in two to three weeks, once lunar night lifts, they can try to regain contact.
Related articles
Iran helicopter crash that killed President Raisi could reverberate across the Middle East
JERUSALEM (AP) — The helicopter crash in which Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country’s foreig2024-05-21Spread of flu more prevalent than COVID
By Li Hongyang (China Daily) 09:57, January 15, 2024Since the start of this year, the number of visi2024-05-21China sees fluctuating decline in child respiratory cases at medical facilities
(Xinhua) 14:07, December 11, 2023BEIJING, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- China has recorded a fluctuating decre2024-05-21Divisive? Not for moviegoers. ‘Civil War’ declares victory at box office.
Alex Garland’s provocative “ Civil War ” didn’t only ignite the discourse. The film also inspired au2024-05-21The fightback begins: Boss of London's Queen Mary University tells pro
A university boss has been praised after telling a pro-Gaza student mob he will not meet them until2024-05-21Chinese armed forces deploy multiple rescue forces in response to Gansu earthquake
(Xinhua) 10:07, December 23, 2023Military medics conduct psychological counseling to a quake-affecte2024-05-21
atest comment