'E's not dead 'e's restin'
First up, Eric Berger, formerly the Houston Chronicle's SciGuy (hurricanes, energy, rockets, the usual Houston stuff):
The Odysseus lander appears to be on its side, Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus says. pic.twitter.com/iyr2ecs9KQ
— Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) February 23, 2024
And from the AP via the Chronicle, February 23:
Private US spacecraft is on its side on the moon with some antennas covered up, the company says
A private U.S. lunar lander tipped over at touchdown and ended up on its side near the moon’s south pole, hampering communications, company officials said Friday.
Intuitive Machines initially believed its six-footed lander, Odysseus, was upright after Thursday's touchdown. But CEO Steve Altemus said Friday the craft “caught a foot in the surface," falling onto its side and, quite possibly, leaning against a rock. He said it was coming in too fast and may have snapped a leg.
“So far, we have quite a bit of operational capability even though we’re tipped over," he told reporters.
But some antennas were pointed toward the surface, limiting flight controllers' ability to get data down, Altemus said. The antennas were stationed high on the 14-foot (4.3-meter) lander to facilitate communications at the hilly, cratered and shadowed south polar region....
....MUCH MORE
Beautiful plumage. Via Space.com:
configuration, compared with its apparent actual configuration (inset, demonstrated with
a model during a press briefing on Feb. 23, 2024). (Image credit: NASA TV)
September 22:
"Houston’s Intuitive Machines makes history as first private company to touch down on the moon"
In after-hours trading LUNR was down 31.70% at $6.55. During today's regular session the stock had been up over 40% in a pretty wild trading range.
Japan’s SLIM lunar lander stuck the landing—upside down
