Athena Lander Seems to Be Tilted on the Moon | Science, Climate & Tech News
A privately constructed spacecraft is reportedly not in an upright position on the lunar surface, according to the company operating it.
The Intuitive Machines lander, named Athena, seems to have endured a challenging descent to the moon in a pivotal mission aimed at locating water.
It decelerated from over 4,000mph to land on Mons Mouton, a ridge located just 100 miles from the lunar south pole.
However, Steve Altemus, the chief executive of Intuitive Machines, stated during a press conference: “We don’t think we’re oriented correctly on the moon’s surface, once again.”
Previously, an Intuitive Machines spacecraft fell over upon landing after tripping over a rock.
Although it responded to commands from mission control, it failed to send images immediately after landing, contrary to expectations.
As engineers worked to restore full communication, the company’s shares experienced a decline.
The south pole region is the target for NASA astronauts, who are scheduled to land there in just two years.
Yet, Athena’s descent onto rugged terrain, which sometimes interrupts communication with Earth, highlights the challenges they will encounter.
If Athena can power up its systems and function normally, it is expected to deploy the first privately built robotic rover onto the lunar surface.
The control room for the lunar landing mission. Pic: AP
As it navigates the terrain, it will create a 3D map and test the first high-speed mobile communications network on the moon.
The search for water
However, the primary goal of the mission is to locate water.
Athena is equipped with a drill designed to extract samples from one meter beneath the surface.
It will also deploy a small ‘hopper’ to bounce into a permanently shadowed deep crater, where ice deposits may exist.
Professor Katherine Joy, a planetary geologist at the University of Manchester advising the NASA Artemis mission, noted that orbiting spacecraft have detected possible signs of water in these craters.
However, verification on the lunar surface is necessary.
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She remarked to Sky News: “These craters are extremely cold, dropping to approximately -230C (-382F). Ice could persist there for thousands, millions, or even billions of years.
“Hence, there could be substantial amounts of ice available.
“This would allow us to extract these deposits for converting into water for drinking, producing oxygen for breathing, and even creating rocket fuel.”
