Thursday, February 22, 2024

"Houston’s Intuitive Machines makes history as first private company to touch down on the moon"

With an assist by SpaceX.*

From The Houston Chronicle, February 22:

A Houston delegate is once again on the moon.

Intuitive Machines’ uncrewed lander made history Thursday as the first privately owned spacecraft to touch down on the lunar surface, though the company was still analyzing the condition of the lander.

The room was silent at a company watch party in Houston as the landing time passed and employees waited to receive communications from their spacecraft. Then Intuitive Machines Chief Technology Officer Tim Crain made an announcement from mission control: "What we can confirm, without a doubt, is our equipment is on the surface of the moon and we are transmitting." 

INTERACTIVE: See a 3D walkthrough of the Nova-C lander’s journey to the moon

The room leapt to its feet. Employees decked in Intuitive Machines gear congratulated one another and celebrated with their children dressed as astronauts. 

After four years of preparations, the company’s 14-foot-tall Nova-C lander navigated to a spot near the moon’s South Pole. It was the 24th mission to softly land on the moon since 1966. And with it comes a new era of exploration....

....MUCH MORE

The writer, Andrea Leinfelder, is the space reporter for the Houston Chronicle. 
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