Lunar lander captures stunning photos of Earth before Moon landing attempt
NASA says instruments and technology onboard the Intuitive Machines lander will help pave the way for human missions to the Moon. The Nova-C lander is expected to reach the lunar surface on Thursday at 4:49 p.m. CST.
Intuitive Machines prepares for robotic Moon landing on Thursday
Houston-based Intuitive Machines Odysseus Moon lander is scheduled to touch down near the lunar South Pole on Thursday afternoon. If successful, the landing will mark the first private spacecraft to land on the Moon.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. – A company attempting to be the first private entity to land a spacecraft on the Moon recently released stunning images of Earth.
Intuitive Machines said the images were taken by its lunar lander after it separated from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. In the photos, the spacecraft known as Nova-C is visible with Earth in the distant background.
The Houston-based company launched the Odysseus mission from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Thursday morning.
SpaceX launches Moon lander beginning week-long trip to lunar surface
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched Intuitive Machines Nova-C Moon lander called Odysseus on Thursday morning from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (Video: NASA/SpaceX)
The launch aboard the SpaceX rocket was said to be picture-perfect, and it is currently on a 239,000-mile trek toward the lunar surface.
After reaching orbit, Intuitive Machines flight controllers fired the spacecraft's liquid methane and liquid oxygen-fueled engine, marking the first time this engine technology was used during a spaceflight.
![Lunar lander captures stunning pictures of space]()
Image 1 of 3The Earth is seen from the Nova-C lander as it travels to the Moon. (Intuitive Machines)
![Lunar lander captures stunning pictures of space]()
Image 2 of 3The Earth is seen from the Nova-C lander as it travels to the Moon. (Intuitive Machines)
![Lunar lander captures stunning pictures of space]()
Image 3 of 3The Earth is seen from the Nova-C lander as it travels to the Moon. (Intuitive Machines)
A landing attempt is set for Thursday at 4:49 p.m. CST, and if successful, Intuitive Machines would become the first private company to land on the Moon.
Technology aboard the spacecraft is expected to investigate lunar dust and space weather as well as determine how much propellant is needed to successfully land on the Moon.
NASA said data gathered during the mission will help pave the way for human exploration during a future Artemis mission.
The space agency estimated that if the landing goes according to plan, the lander will be capable of operating for about two weeks in sunlight.
"We are keenly aware of the immense challenges that lie ahead," Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus said in a statement after the successful launch. "However, it is precisely in facing these challenges head-on that we recognize the magnitude of the opportunity before us: to softly return the United States to the surface of the Moon for the first time in 52 years."
2024 ROCKET LAUNCH SCHEDULE SHOWS CONTINUED STEADY PACE OF BLAST-OFFS
Intuitive Machines Nova-C lander, also known as Odie, within the SpaceX Falcon 9 fairings. (Image: SpaceX)
(FOX Weather)
Space experts will be the first to tell you that successfully landing on Earth’s only natural satellite is difficult, and several recent moon missions have resulted in failures.
Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic Technology launched a spacecraft in January with the intention of landing on the Moon, but a fuel leak discovered after liftoff prevented the mission from attempting a lunar landing.
In August, Russia attempted to land a spacecraft on the Moon’s South Pole, but the mission appeared to end in failure as a new crater sits not far from where the landing was expected to take place.
Japan’s space agency, JAXA, declared its moon mission a success in January, but photos showed its robotic lander was wrong side up. JAXA said this caused operators to have limited use of the lander, and it remains unclear if the spacecraft will survive through the long lunar night.
Several additional lunar landers are expected to launch in 2024, so space enthusiasts remain optimistic that a future mission will achieve what few have successfully accomplished.
SpaceX launches rocket carrying Intuitive Machines' Moon lander
SpaceX launched the Intuitive Machines' Moon lander from Florida early Thursday morning that marks the beginning of the second attempt this year to land a private robotic mission on the Moon. FOX News Correspondent Jonathan Serrie has more.