A lunar lander operated by Houston-based aerospace company Intuitive Machines skidded across the Moon’s surface and crashed into a crater before its mission could begin. The incident occurred just days after the lander, named Athena, touched down on the lunar surface. New details reveal that Athena briefly sputtered to life again after powering down, sending a transmission that included the names of Intuitive Machines team members.
Athena’s landing site was 820 feet from its intended target in the Moon’s Mons Mouton region. However, an altimeter failure led to the lander losing track of its distance and hitting a lunar plateau instead. As Athena slid across the terrain, it kicked up dust that covered its solar panels, severely limiting its ability to generate power.
Despite this setback, the team managed to gather valuable data from the lander before its batteries were depleted. According to Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus, the team transmitted precious data for 12 hours of surface operations. Athena was part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program and carried a suite of science tools and instruments.
This is not the first time an Intuitive Machines lander has faced issues with landing. The company’s previous attempt, Odysseus, experienced similar problems but managed to reach the lunar surface. However, its landing wasn’t smooth, and it tipped over on its side.
Athena’s mission ended in tragedy, but it left a lasting message for its team. In its final moments, the lander powered down, only to briefly resurface and send a transmission that included the names of every Intuitive Machines team member who contributed to its success.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/ill-fated-moon-lander-unexpectedly-woke-up-and-sent-one-last-message-2000576241