A moon lander from the US has landed on the lunar surface but ended up tipping sideways due to a snag with one of its landing feet, reports say. The spacecraft, named Odysseus, managed to touch down near a crater called Malapert A but is now resting on its side.
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Despite this unexpected twist, engineers confirm that Odysseus is "alive and well." It's the first private spacecraft to make it to the moon's surface and the first US craft to do so since 1972. However, instead of landing upright, it came to rest sideways, leaning on a rock.
The company behind the lander, Intuitive Machines based in Houston, reassured that communication with Odysseus is ongoing. Engineers are sending commands to the craft and working to obtain the first photos from its landing site.
Although the lander's position isn't ideal, most of the science and technology payloads onboard are accessible for communication, which is a positive sign. However, two of the spacecraft's antennas are pointing downward, limiting communication. There's also uncertainty about the functionality of a solar energy panel, but a second array seems to be working fine.
Despite these challenges, the mission director expressed confidence in the spacecraft's performance. It managed to navigate to the moon flawlessly, even overcoming a navigation glitch during its descent.
After landing, it took some time to establish full communication with the craft, but once contact was made, engineers confirmed that Odysseus had successfully touched down, albeit at an angle.
The spacecraft's payloads are expected to function for about nine or ten days before the polar landing site enters darkness. While there was a drop in the company's stock after news of the tilt, the mission remains a significant achievement in space exploration.
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