Restless Apollo Lunar Module Stirs, Transmits Final Signal Before Silence Returns
Space can be brutally unforgiving, as we learned last week when a lunar lander crashed into a dark crater on the Moon, cutting its mission short. The unfortunate incident involved the Athena lander, which touched down on the lunar surface on March 6 after a week-long trip from Earth.
Despite the crash landing, Athena wasn't completely dead. Steve Altemus, CEO of Houston-based Intuitive Machines, recently revealed that the lander found a brief moment to sputter to life after powering down.
Athena's landing was far from perfect. It ended up on its side in a shallow crater in the Moon's Mons Mouton region, around 250 meters off its targeted landing site. An altimeter failure during descent caused the lander to hit a lunar plateau, tumble over, and slide across the Moon's jagged terrain before landing in a small crater. As it slid, Athena kicked up dust from the surface, some of which lodged onto its solar panels, making it near impossible for the lander to generate power.
Athena was filled with NASA science tools and instruments as part of the CLPS program, and the team quickly began transmitting precious data following touchdown. "We managed to gather extraordinarily valuable data for our customers in just 12 hours of surface operations," said Altemus.
This isn't the first time Intuitive Machines has failed to make a smooth landing on the Moon. In 2024, the company launched its first lunar lander, Odysseus. It reached the Moon's surface, but a stuck leg during descent caused it to tip over onto its side near a rock. Despite the setbacks, Odysseus managed to operate on the lunar surface for seven days, making Intuitive Machines the first company to land a private lander on the Moon.
Athena's final moments were emotional, with the lander sending a personalized transmission containing the names of every team member who made its mission possible before it powered down for good. It's a stark reminder of the challenges and triumphs that come with exploring the cosmos.
- The altimeter failure during Athena's descent, a NASA-funded spacecraft, resulted in an untimely landing, causing it to hit a lunar plateau, tumble, and slide across the Moon's jagged terrain before settling in a small crater.
- Athena, despite its imperfect landing, was filled with science tools and instruments as part of the CLPS program, allowing the team to transmit valuable data for 12 hours of surface operations before powering down.
- In the future, Intuitive Machines, the company behind Athena, plans to overcome setbacks, as demonstrated by their previous attempt in 2024 when their first lunar lander, Odysseus, also ended up on its side, but managed to operate on the lunar surface for seven days, making it the first private company to land a lander on the Moon.
- In its final moments, Athena sent a personalized transmission containing the names of every team member who made its mission possible, serving as a poignant reminder of the emotional challenges and triumphs associated with space exploration and technology.