ODYSSEUS SPACECRAFT

Last Updated21/02/2024

Recently America launched a Robotic lunar lander into space.
If successful, it will become the first American spacecraft to land gently on the Moon since the Apollo 17 moon landing in 1972.
It would also become the first private effort to reach the surface of the Moon intact, following three failed attempts by other companies.

It was named Odysseus after a contest among employees of Intuitive Machines of Houston, the company in charge of the mission.
The name is inspired from the journey of the hero of the ancient Greek epic poem "Odyssey”.
Odyssey's journey serves as an analogy for the long and challenging nature of the lunar mission.

Signifies the potential of private companies to undertake lunar missions at significantly lower costs compared to traditional NASA endeavours.
It could pave the way for broader Moon exploration by both NASA and commercial entities.

NASA is the primary customer, paying Intuitive Machines $118 million for its payloads.
The payloads include
- Stereo camera: It will observe the plume of dust kicked up during landing.
- Radio receiver: It measures the effects of charged particles on radio signals.
The launch comes after recent failures of other private lunar missions, underscoring the risks involved.
- A US company, Astrobotic Technology of Pittsburgh, attempted to send Peregrine, its lander, to the moon.
- But a malfunction with its propulsion system prevented any possibility of landing.

Both Odysseus and Peregrine are part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program (CLPS).
Objective: To use commercial companies for lunar exploration rather than NASA building and operating its own moon landers.