{"id":10251,"date":"2024-02-24T00:02:16","date_gmt":"2024-02-24T04:02:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zobi.alcowep.com\/bourtagshdrevxnls658739\/nasa-tech-contributes-to-soft-moon-landing-agency-science-underway\/"},"modified":"2024-02-24T00:02:16","modified_gmt":"2024-02-24T04:02:16","slug":"nasa-tech-contributes-to-soft-moon-landing-agency-science-underway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zobi.alcowep.com\/bourtagshdrevxnls658739\/nasa-tech-contributes-to-soft-moon-landing-agency-science-underway\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA Tech Contributes to Soft Moon Landing, Agency Science Underway"},"content":{"rendered":"

NASA Tech Contributes to Soft Moon Landing, Agency Science Underway<\/h2>\n

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On Feb. 22, 2024, Intuitive Machines\u2019 Odysseus lunar lander captures a wide field of view image of Schomberger crater on the Moon approximately 125 miles (200 km) uprange from the intended landing site, at approximately 6 miles (10 km) altitude. <\/div>\n
Credit: Intuitive Machines<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Editor\u2019s note: This release was updated Feb. 23, 2024, to add an image from the news conference and participant titles. <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

For the first time in more than 50 years, new NASA science instruments and technology demonstrations are operating on the Moon following the first successful delivery of the agency\u2019s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative.<\/p>\n

Intuitive Machines\u2019 Nova-C lander, called Odysseus, completed a seven-day journey to lunar orbit and executed procedures to softly land near Malapert A in the South Pole region of the Moon at 5:24 p.m. CST on Feb. 22. The lander is healthy, collecting solar power, and transmitting data back to the company\u2019s mission control in Houston. The mission marks the first commercial uncrewed landing on the Moon.<\/p>\n

Carrying six NASA science research and technology demonstrations, among other customer payloads, all NASA science instruments completed transit checkouts en route to the Moon. A NASA precision landing technology demonstration also provided critical last-minute assistance to ensure a soft landing. As part of NASA\u2019s Artemis campaign, the lunar delivery is in the region where NASA will send astronauts to search for water and other lunar resources later this decade.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor the first time in more than half a century, America returned to the Moon. Congratulations to Intuitive Machines for placing the lunar lander Odysseus carrying NASA scientific instruments to a place no person or machine has gone before, the lunar South Pole,\u201d said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. \u201cThis feat from Intuitive Machines, SpaceX, and NASA demonstrates the promise of American leadership in space and the power of commercial partnerships under NASA\u2019s CLPS initiative. Further, this success opens the door for new voyages under Artemis to send astronauts to the Moon, then onward to Mars.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

During the journey to the Moon, NASA instruments measured the quantity of cryogenic engine fuel as it has been used, and while descending toward the lunar surface, teams collected data on plume-surface interactions and tested precision landing technologies.<\/p>\n

Odysseus\u2019 surface operations are underway and expected to take place through Thursday, Feb. 29.<\/p>\n

New lunar science, technology<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

NASA\u2019s Navigation Doppler Lidar for Precise Velocity and Range Sensing (NDL) guidance system<\/a> for descent and landing ultimately played a key role in aiding the successful landing. A few hours ahead of landing, Intuitive Machines encountered a sensor issue with their navigation system and leaned on NASA\u2019s guidance system for an assist to precisely land. NASA\u2019s instrument operates on the same principles of radar and uses pulses from a laser emitted through three optical telescopes. It measures speed, direction, and altitude with high precision during descent and touchdown.<\/p>\n

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Experts from NASA and Intuitive Machines hosted a news conference Feb. 23, 2024, at NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston to discuss the soft landing of the company\u2019s Nova-C lander, called Odysseus. Participants in the briefing included (L-R): Steve Altemus, chief executive officer and co-founder, Intuitive Machines; Joel Kearns, deputy associate administrator for Exploration, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters in Washington; Tim Crain, chief technology officer and co-founder, Intuitive Machines; and Prasun Desai, deputy associate administrator, Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. <\/div>\n
Credit: NASA\/Robert Markowitz<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Now that they are on the lunar surface, NASA instruments will focus on investigating lunar surface interactions and radio astronomy. The Odysseus lander also carries a retroreflector array that will contribute to a network of location markers on the Moon for communication and navigation for future autonomous navigation technologies.<\/p>\n

Additional NASA hardware aboard the lander includes:<\/p>\n