The Athena lander from Intuitive Machines has reached the Moon but has landed at an incorrect angle, raising concerns about its stability. CEO Steve Altemus indicated they might not have the correct attitude, referencing a previous mishap where the first lander tipped over. The design, criticized for its height-to-width ratio, is defended by Altemus, who mentions the low center of gravity. Despite its issues, the spacecraft is still generating power, leading the team to explore ways to extend its operational life, maintaining a positive outlook on the achievement of landing on the Moon.
We had a seven-day transit to the surface and we think that we've been very successful to this point. However I do have to tell you that we don't believe we're on the correct attitude on the surface, yet again.
Most lunar landers use squat designs to achieve great stability, but Athena is over 4.5 metres tall and just 1.57 metres wide.
Any time humanity puts a lander on the Moon, it's a good day.
We're investigating which systems can be shut down to ensure the longest possible working life for the lander, and we're told they remain upbeat.
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