Athena Lunar Lander Mission Ends After Toppling in Crater
The IM-2 mission, Intuitive Machines’ second lunar attempt, concluded prematurely after the lander failed to recharge in the Moon's harsh conditions.
- The Athena lander landed off-target at the Moon's South Pole, approximately 820 feet from its intended site, and toppled over in a crater.
- Intuitive Machines confirmed the mission's end after the lander's batteries depleted, with no ability to recharge due to its orientation and the crater's shadowed, cold conditions.
- NASA's PRIME-1 payload demonstrated partial functionality, including deploying its drill and detecting gases, but could not complete its objectives fully.
- This marks Intuitive Machines' second lunar landing failure, following a similar mishap with its Odysseus lander last year.
- Despite setbacks, the mission achieved the southernmost lunar landing to date and provided some valuable data for NASA's exploration efforts.
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