Fri Mar 07 02:26:29 UTC 2025: ## Intuitive Machines’ Second Moon Landing Ends Sideways

**Houston, TX (March 7, 2025)** – Intuitive Machines’ Athena lunar lander, launched on February 26th, has suffered a setback, landing on its side after experiencing problems with its laser rangefinders. This mirrors the fate of the company’s first lander, Odysseus, which also landed improperly last year.

The $62 million mission, carrying 11 payloads and scientific instruments including a drill, a hopping drone, and rovers for NASA and private companies, touched down approximately 160 km from the lunar south pole. However, data from the lander’s inertial measurement unit (IMU) indicates it is not upright. A NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter sweep will confirm its position and orientation in the coming days.

CEO Steve Altemus acknowledged the off-nominal status of the mission, citing challenges with the laser rangefinders, crucial for precise landing. While the flight itself was deemed successful, the lander’s tilted position hampers scientific operations. The company’s stock price plummeted following the news.

This incident highlights the inherent risks associated with NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, which aims to utilize private companies for cost-effective lunar exploration. While NASA officials anticipated some mission failures, the Athena landing, alongside issues with other payloads launched alongside it (NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer and AstroForge’s Odin), underscores the challenges of this approach. Intuitive Machines is considering delaying its next lunar mission to allow for the deployment of a company communications satellite.

Despite this setback, Intuitive Machines and NASA remain optimistic about the future of private lunar exploration, emphasizing the increased number of experiments reaching the moon through these ventures. The event also comes on the heels of a successful soft landing by Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander, highlighting the ongoing race to establish a sustained presence on the moon. The race to the lunar south pole intensifies, with the region considered crucial for future resource extraction and utilization.

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