Private US moon lander still working after breaking leg and falling, but not for long
Time:2024-05-21 07:05:48 Source:entertainmentViews(143)
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The first private U.S. spacecraft to land on the moon broke a leg at touchdown before falling over, according to company officials who said Wednesday it was on the verge of losing power.
Intuitive Machines, the company that built the lander, released new photos Wednesday, six days after the landing, that showed at least one broken leg on the six-legged spacecraft. The lander came in too fast, skidded and tumbled over as it touched down near the moon’s south pole last Thursday, hampering communications and power. It was supposed to operate for at least a week.
CEO Steve Altemus said the lander, named Odysseus, was still alive and generating solar power but expected to go silent soon. Late Wednesday night, the company said the lander might linger into Thursday.
When the end comes, Altemus said, flight controllers would “tuck Odie in for the cold night of the moon” so in two to three weeks, once lunar night lifts, they can try to regain contact.
Previous:Nadal returns to Roland Garros to practice amid doubts over fitness and form
Next:Travis Kelce downs whiskey shot on slice of bread at Kelce Jam without Taylor Swift
You may also like
- Who is Jacob Zuma, the former South African president disqualified from next week's election?
- Gallen blanks Cardinals for 6 innings and Diamondbacks score 5 runs in 5th to win 5
- Hun Sen defends Cambodian canal project, rejects outside slander
- Landslides hit Indonesia's Sulawesi island, killing at least 18 people
- Philippines blames China for loss of giant clams in disputed shoal and urges environmental inquiry
- Lithuania's Mykolas Alekna breaks discus throw record that stood since 1986
- China's parachute system makes controllable landing of rocket boosters
- Landslides hit Indonesia's Sulawesi island, killing at least 18 people
- Ship that caused Baltimore bridge collapse has been refloated