Intuitive Machines’ moon lander apparently touches down on its side – again
US firm’s Athena lander may have fallen over while touching down near the moon’s south pole
The second moon landing by Intuitive Machines appears to have suffered the same fate as its first try last year, with data indicating the Athena lander ended on its side on the lunar surface after problems with its laser rangefinders, the US company said on Thursday.
The six-legged Athena lander, carrying 11 payloads and scientific instruments, touched down at a site some 160km (100 miles) from the lunar south pole after launching atop a SpaceX rocket on February 26 from Florida.
“We don’t believe we’re in the correct attitude on the surface of the moon, yet again,” Steve Altemus, CEO of the Houston-based start-up, told a news conference.
Intuitive Machines is one of many companies primed by Nasa to return the United States to the moon, with greater private sector involvement seen as a lower cost but higher risk means of space flight. The company’s shares were down 36 per cent at around US$7 in extended trading after having closed the regular Nasdaq session down 20 per cent at US$11.26.
Altemus said the lander sent some data back to Earth that indicated it was not upright. Specifically, he said, data from an instrument called the Inertial Measurement Unit, or IMU, “says we’re oriented somewhat on our side”.