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In a historic moment, the United States has returned to the moon for the first time in 50 years. The Odysseus lunar lander, developed by Houston-based company Intuitive Machines, achieved this significant milestone, marking a pivotal moment in space exploration.
Named NOVA-C, the Odysseus Moon lander made its successful landing at the Malapert A crater near the lunar south pole, becoming fully operational after eight days since its launch from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.
The hexagonal spacecraft, part of a new generation of NASA-backed unmanned commercial robots, touched down close to the southern lunar pole at 2323 GMT. It decelerated from a speed of 4,000 miles (6,500 kilometers) per hour upon landing, showcasing precise maneuvering and control.
This achievement reasserts the United States’ leadership in space exploration amidst a global space race. The strategic selection of the landing site near Malapert A reflects NASA’s vision of establishing a future astronaut base in this region, aiming to gain valuable insights into lunar environments and communication protocols.
Despite encountering minor communication issues in the moments leading up to touchdown, Intuitive Machines’ flight controller confirmed the operational status of the lander, with intermittent signals received from the lunar surface. Overcoming technical challenges, Odysseus stands as a testament to human ingenuity and marks a significant milestone in the ongoing pursuit of space exploration.
Intuitive Machines communicated the success of the mission through its social media accounts, celebrating this historic moment in space exploration.
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