Private Spacecraft Makes First US Moon Landing in More than 50 Years

Private Spacecraft Makes First US Moon Landing in More than 50 Years

A private spacecraft has successfully touched down on the moon, marking the first U.S. lunar landing in more than 50 years.

The American space agency NASA confirmed the Odysseus moon lander, built by Texas company Intuitive Machines, had landed on the moon’s surface Thursday.

Flight controllers said earlier that difficulties with the lander’s navigation equipment had forced them to activate an experimental landing system at the last minute. Officials from Intuitive Machines also reported communication problems but said a signal was received from the lander after a delay.

“What we can confirm, without a doubt, is our equipment is on the surface of the moon,” said Intuitive Machines project director Tim Crain. He was speaking to flight controllers at the company’s operations center in Houston, Texas.

This image provided by Intuitive Machines shows its Odysseus lunar lander with the Earth in the background on Feb. 16, 2024. The image was captured shortly after separation from SpaceX's second stage on Intuitive Machines' first journey to the moon. (Intuitive Machines via AP)

The company’s chief, Steve Altemus, added, “I know this was a nail-biter, but we are on the surface, and we are transmitting. Welcome to the moon.” In a message published Thursday night on X, Intuitive Machines said flight controllers had “confirmed Odysseus is upright and starting to send data."

The spacecraft targeted a landing spot about 300 kilometers from the moon’s south pole. The area is mostly flat, but also includes large rocks, hills and craters. Officials from Intuitive Machines were not immediately able to provide details about whether Odysseus had reached its target landing area.

Another U.S. company, Astrobotic Technology, attempted a lunar landing last month. But that privately built lander, called Peregrine, developed a fuel leak shortly after launch and did not make it to the moon.

Officials from Astrobotic were quick to send congratulations to the Odysseus mission team. “An incredible achievement. We can’t wait to join you on the lunar surface in the near future,” the company wrote on X.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson also reacted on Twitter, writing that Intuitive Machines had “aced the landing of a lifetime.”

The last time the United States landed on the moon was in 1972, with NASA’s Apollo 17 mission. So far, five nations have successfully landed spacecraft on the moon: the United States, China, the Soviet Union, Japan and India. Japan’s landing came just last month.

In addition to being the first U.S. lunar landing since 1972, the Odysseus mission marked the first time a privately built spacecraft has touched down on the moon.

Odysseus is carrying scientific instruments and technology demonstrations for NASA and several private organizations. Experiments are to include observations of space weather activity and radio waves. The spacecraft is designed to operate for seven days on solar energy before the sun sets over the landing area.

This frame grab from Nasa, shows employees and guests reacting as the Intuitive Machines' Odysseus lunar lander touches down on the moon, in Torrance, California, on February 22, 2024. (Photo by Handout / NASA / AFP)

NASA has said data from the lunar lander’s mission will be used to help prepare for the agency’s future Artemis space program. That program aims to return astronauts to the moon. NASA recently announced that its planned mission to land humans on the moon, called Artemis III, was set for September 2026.

I’m Bryan Lynn.

The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English.

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Words in This Story

navigate – v. to find the right direction to travel in by using maps of other equipment

doubt – n. the feeling of being unsure about something

nail-biter – n. something that is very exciting because the outcome is uncertain

crater – n. a big hole left in the ground or an object by a force of impact

achievement –n. something important that a person or group has done

ace – v. to score against an opponent

mission – n. the flight of a spacecraft to perform a certain task or job