Tensions rise on the Moon as Athena lunar lander’s fate remains uncertain after a series of setbacks, but mission partners remain hopeful for its success.
The # There’s Some Serious Drama on the Moon
The Athena lunar lander, developed by Houston-based space company Intuitive Machines, was meant to touch down autonomously near Mons Mouton, a flat-topped mountain roughly 100 miles from the south pole of the Moon. However, its exact fate remains unknown after several hours of uncertainty.
Athena is the Greek goddess of wisdom, war, and crafts.
Born from Zeus' head after he swallowed her pregnant mother, Metis, she emerged fully grown and armored.
In mythology, Athena was often depicted as a wise and strategic warrior, known for her role in the Trojan War.
She was also revered as a patron deity of the city of Athens, which was named in her honor.
Archaeological discoveries have revealed that Athena's cult was widespread in ancient Greece, with numerous temples and statues dedicated to her worship.
According to Intuitive Machines CEO ‘Steve Altemus’ , the lander is not in the correct attitude on the surface of the Moon yet again. This raises concerns about the safety and success of the mission. The company is collecting photos and downlinking them for analysis, while also planning to use NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter camera to confirm the lander’s location.
The Athena lander has faced similar challenges as its predecessor, ‘Odyssey’ , which ran into trouble during its landing attempt last year. The lander had to be shut down after it failed to generate sufficient solar power due to falling over on a rock. Japan’s Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) suffered a similar fate in January 2024 by landing on its nose.
Athena was meant to deploy a suitcase-sized rover developed by Lunar Outpost, another space startup. However, if the lander is on its side again, which seems likely given the previous setbacks, it may be possible to deploy the rover and attempt to drive off the surface of the Moon.
The incident highlights the challenges faced by lunar landers in recent times. ‘Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost’ successfully touched down on the lunar surface over the weekend without incident, while Japanese space company ispace‘s Hakuto-R Mission 2 is en route and expected to attempt a landing on the far side of the Moon later this spring.
Lunar landers are spacecraft designed to descend and touch down on the surface of the Moon.
The first successful lunar lander was the Soviet Union's Luna 9, which landed on February 3, 1966.
Since then, several countries have developed their own lunar landing capabilities.
NASA's Surveyor series successfully landed seven spacecraft on the Moon between 1966 and 1968.
Modern lunar landers are being developed for future missions to the Moon, including China's Chang'e 4 and India's Vikram.
Intuitive Machines will be hosting a news conference at 4 pm EST to provide updates on the situation. The outcome of the Athena mission remains uncertain, but it is clear that the company and its partners are working hard to resolve the issues and ensure the success of the mission.
- futurism.com | Theres Some Serious Drama on the Moon
