We tipped over, once more! Intuitive Machines’ second Moon mission ends in a fall

Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C Athena lander

Intuitive Machines‘ newest try at a Moon touchdown ended in disappointment as its Athena spacecraft tipped over upon landing, mirroring its first lunar setback final 12 months. The Houston-based firm confirmed Friday that the solar-powered lander is unable to recharge, chopping the mission brief.
The setback marks a untimely finish to what had been an formidable effort, that includes cutting-edge experiments, together with a hopping drone, ice drill, a number of rovers, and a 4G community check. Athena had aimed for a historic touchdown on the Mons Mouton plateau, nearer to the Moon’s south pole than any earlier mission.
But after launching aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and touring over a million kilometers, Athena stumbled on the last hurdle. It got here down at an ungainly angle, touchdown face-first into a crater no less than 250 meters from its meant spot.

Faulty devices, acquainted issues
NASA’s affiliate administrator for science, Nicky Fox, remained optimistic regardless of the setback. “Each success and setback are opportunities to learn and grow,” she mentioned, emphasizing the mission’s position in shaping future lunar and Mars exploration.
Athena’s laser navigation system seems to have contributed to the botched touchdown—a problem eerily just like Intuitive Machines’ earlier failure with its Odysseus lander in February 2024. The system, designed to measure altitude and velocity, supplied unreliable knowledge, making exact touchdown troublesome.
NASA was in a position to energy on the ice drill and transfer it round however could not use it for its meant objective. The mission was initially anticipated to final 10 days, capturing a lunar eclipse from the Moon’s floor on March 14.
Texas rival succeeds as CLPS struggles
The failure got here simply days after Texas-based Firefly Aerospace efficiently landed its Blue Ghost lander, intensifying scrutiny on Intuitive Machines’ designs.
These missions fall below NASA’s $2.6 billion Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, which goals to leverage personal trade for lunar exploration and Artemis program help. Of the 4 CLPS missions tried thus far, just one lander has managed an upright landing, whereas two, together with Athena, landed sideways, and one failed totally.
Adding to the ill-fated voyage, two probes that hitched a experience with Athena—NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer and the personal Odin probe—have additionally been misplaced.
Despite the setback, Intuitive Machines stays dedicated, with two extra Moon missions in the pipeline. The firm now faces a crucial evaluation of IM-2’s knowledge to find out what went unsuitable—and whether or not it will probably lastly stick the touchdown subsequent time.