Intuitive Machines' second lunar lander, Athena, has successfully landed on the Moon but appears to be experiencing issues regarding its orientation. CEO Steve Altemus expressed concerns that Athena may not be upright, similar to the earlier Odysseus lander. Initial data suggests a sideways position, although the lander is located roughly 100 miles from the lunar south pole. Athena's mission, part of a NASA partnership, aims to investigate lunar water presence. Although currently in communication with Earth, power generation and overall performance may affect its ten-day mission objectives.
As for Athena, it's currently charging on the surface and is communicating with the mission team here on Earth. However, performance seems to be sub-optimal. 'We're not getting everything that we had asked for in terms of power generation and communications,' Altemus said.
CEO Steve Altemus said during the post-landing news conference that he doesn't believe that Athena is 'in the correct attitude on the surface of the Moon yet again.'
Data from the lander's inertial measurement unit does seem to indicate a sideways orientation. We do know that Athena has touched down approximately 100 miles from the lunar south pole, which is where it's supposed to be.
The company's previous lander Odysseus was the first privately owned spacecraft to reach the Moon's surface, though it toppled over. Rival company Firefly Aerospace successfully landed its own Blue Ghost spacecraft onto the lunar surface earlier this week, and this one landed upright.
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