The Lunar Development Race: First Commercial Moon Landing Achieved, but...
As said,2023 and 2024 have seen a series of historic events in lunar development, and the momentum shows no signs of slowing down.
In this article, we will focus on the heated competition among private companies to land on the moon, and provide an update on the latest developments.
Key Players in the Commercial Moon Landing Race
Intuitive Machines Makes History with First Commercial Moon Landing
On February 23, 2024 (US time), Intuitive Machines became the first private company to successfully land on the moon. This mission was carried out as part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, which aims to outsource lunar transportation to private companies. 14 companies, including Intuitive Machines, have been selected for the CLPS program, with a total funding of $2.6 billion.
Intuitive Machines: A Pioneer in Lunar Exploration
Intuitive Machines was founded in 2013 by a group of core engineers who worked on the Project Morpheus lunar lander during their time at NASA.
The company was awarded a contract by NASA to undertake a moon landing mission, and they successfully accomplished this challenging task.
Post-Landing Situation
Intuitive Machines' lunar lander Nova-C (Odysseus) established communication after landing on the moon. However, the signal strength was weaker than expected, and the exact situation is still unknown.
In the video footage from the control center, the team members are not seen celebrating exuberantly, but rather wearing anxious expressions.
Landing Mishap
According to Intuitive Machines, Nova-C may have tipped over during landing. While some parts of the mission can still be carried out, it cannot be considered a complete success.
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A Similar Incident in January 2024
In January 2024, JAXA's lunar lander project SLIM also tipped over during landing and is currently in an upright position.
These incidents highlight the sheer difficulty of landing on the moon.
Odysseus: Overcoming Adversity
Intuitive Machines named their lunar lander Odysseus, after the Greek mythological hero who endured a long and arduous journey before returning home.
Let us hope that Intuitive Machines, like Odysseus, will overcome this setback and achieve a full recovery.
Finally, I would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to everyone involved in Intuitive Machines' successful moon landing.
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