Intuitive Machines, the Houston-based company behind the American robotic spacecraft Odysseus, announced on Monday that the spacecraft is facing its final days on the moon. The toppled lander, which landed on the lunar surface last week, is expected to die in the next day or so as its solar panels are no longer exposed to sunlight.
Despite limited communication with Odysseus, the company released images taken during the descent, although none from the surface have been shared yet. The spacecraft, standing at about 14 feet tall, encountered a rough landing that resulted in it being tipped over on its side.
With its antennas not pointed back at Earth, data transmission has been significantly slowed down. As the sun moves across the sky, the solar panels will soon be in shadow, depriving the spacecraft of energy and causing its batteries to drain. Odysseus is not equipped to survive the extreme temperatures of the upcoming lunar night, which will drop below minus-200 degrees Fahrenheit.
Flight controllers are working to collect as much data as possible before the spacecraft’s demise. Despite the challenges, Odysseus managed to land within a mile of its target landing site, showcasing the precision of the mission. The spacecraft also detected nine safe landing sites within the south pole region, providing valuable information for future lunar missions.
As Odysseus nears its end, another lunar lander, JAXA’s SLIM, unexpectedly revived after experiencing similar challenges during its landing. While the fate of Odysseus remains uncertain, there is a possibility that it might wake up again once the sun rises at its landing site in March.
