Odysseus, the primary U.S. spacecraft to land on the moon since 1972, was  “put to sleep” after the lunar night time kicked in. However whereas the mission that noticed the primary ever Moon touchdown by a non-public firm is coming to an finish, Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus instructed reporters that there are hopes to “wake it up” in about three weeks, when the Solar is out once more.

The historic mission has been hailed as successful by Intuitive Machines and NASA, even because it bumped into a number of issues alongside the best way, together with a touchdown that noticed the uncrewed probe tip over upon reaching the floor.

Nonetheless, earlier than the two-week lunar night time enveloped Odysseus’ moon lander, the robotic craft despatched again one closing transmission from area. It depicts the cratered gray floor that extends to the lunar horizon. If one seems to be carefully, you’ll be able to see a crescent of shadowed Earth within the distance.

Earlier than its energy was depleted, Odysseus accomplished a becoming farewell transmission. Obtained as we speak, this picture from February twenty second showcases the crescent Earth within the backdrop, a delicate reminder of humanity’s presence within the universe.

Goodnight, Odie. We hope to listen to from you… pic.twitter.com/RwOWsH1TSz

— Intuitive Machines (@Int_Machines) February 29, 2024

“Earlier than its energy was depleted, Odysseus accomplished a becoming farewell transmission,” Intuitive Machines wrote on X. They added, “Obtained as we speak, this picture from February twenty second showcases the crescent Earth within the backdrop, a delicate reminder of humanity’s presence within the universe. Goodnight, Odie. We hope to listen to from you once more.”

In the meantime, Intuitive Machines CEO instructed reporters at NASA’s Kennedy Area Middle, on February 29, “What we have gotten when it comes to knowledge on the car is an amazing quantity of the steerage, navigation management knowledge, all of the propulsion knowledge, all of the efficiency knowledge for the car that may enable us to utterly reconstruct the mission.”

“What we will do is type of tuck Ody in for the chilly night time of the moon, and see if we won’t wake him up right here after we get the photo voltaic midday,” in about three weeks, he mentioned.

Intuitive Machines officers weren’t certain if the batteries, after going via the following plunging nighttime temperatures, would be capable to cross on the facility generated by the probe’s photo voltaic panels, however “why not attempt?” requested Mr Altemus.

NASA is planning to return astronauts to the Moon later this decade, and paid Intuitive Machines round $120 million for the mission, as a part of an initiative to delegate cargo missions to the personal sector and stimulate a lunar financial system.

Odysseus carries a set of NASA devices designed to enhance scientific understanding of the lunar south pole, the place the area company plans to ship astronauts beneath its Artemis program later this decade.