A tiny rover aboard Intuitive Machines’ sideways-landed Athena spacecraft survived the lunar touchdown but couldn’t deploy, according to Lunar Outpost. Despite the failed landing orientation cutting short the mission on March 6, the Mobile Autonomous Prospecting Platform (MAPP) returned valuable data during transit and on the Moon’s surface.
Athena’s tilted position blocked its solar arrays, ending power within a day. However, MAPP confirmed it was ready to explore—had it escaped—while testing payloads like Nokia’s lunar 4G system and collecting lunar soil samples for NASA (symbolically priced at $1).
Though primary goals were unmet, the mission validated technologies for upcoming missions, including Lunar Voyage 2’s Reiner Gamma exploration. Lunar Outpost also aims to compete for a NASA rover contract ahead of the Artemis program. The company highlighted progress in space mobility and plans future lunar ventures later this year.
Source: https://www.space.com/the-universe/moon/private-mini-rover-aboard-sideways-athena-moon-lander-was-ready-to-roll-but-it-couldnt-get-out