An American company, Intuitive Machines, made history by being the first commercial company to land a spacecraft on the Moon.
Despite some technical hiccups, their robot, Odysseus, successfully touched down near the lunar south pole.
This achievement not only marks a significant milestone for commercial space exploration but also signifies the return of the US to lunar exploration after more than fifty years.
NASA, who partnered with Intuitive Machines for this mission, hailed it as a triumph and a demonstration of the power of commercial partnerships.
The successful landing opens up possibilities for future lunar exploration and potential resource utilization, such as extracting water ice for drinking water and fuel.
The mission also carries scientific payloads to study lunar dust and other phenomena, contributing to our understanding of the Moon’s environment.
This remarkable feat adds another chapter to humanity’s exploration of space.
(Credit: Adapted from BBC News)
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-68377730