Odysseus appears to have landed successfully
The privately built Odysseus lunar lander appears to have landed successfully near the south pole of the Moon, though ground controllers have not yet gotten full confirmation that all systems are functioning.
As stated by the mission director, after noting that they were getting a faint signal from the lander’s high gain antenna:
All stations, this is mission director on IM-1. We are evaluating how we can refine that signal and dial in the pointing for our dishes. What we can confirm without a doubt is that our equipment is on the surface of the Moon and we are transmitting. So congratulations IM team. We’ll see how much more we can get from that.
Shortly thereafter the company and NASA ended the live stream.
At this time they do not yet know exactly where the lander touched down, or whether it did so without damage. The signal from the high gain antenna suggests the communications system is intact as well as the antenna, but the lack of further confirmation suggests damage to other instruments, though it is also possible that the signal is not yet firm enough to obtain data from other instruments.
More updates to follow, without doubt.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
The privately built Odysseus lunar lander appears to have landed successfully near the south pole of the Moon, though ground controllers have not yet gotten full confirmation that all systems are functioning.
As stated by the mission director, after noting that they were getting a faint signal from the lander’s high gain antenna:
All stations, this is mission director on IM-1. We are evaluating how we can refine that signal and dial in the pointing for our dishes. What we can confirm without a doubt is that our equipment is on the surface of the Moon and we are transmitting. So congratulations IM team. We’ll see how much more we can get from that.
Shortly thereafter the company and NASA ended the live stream.
At this time they do not yet know exactly where the lander touched down, or whether it did so without damage. The signal from the high gain antenna suggests the communications system is intact as well as the antenna, but the lack of further confirmation suggests damage to other instruments, though it is also possible that the signal is not yet firm enough to obtain data from other instruments.
More updates to follow, without doubt.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
I hope it made it, but as I watched I could not overcome the nagging feeling that the team, especially NASA, had declared victory too early. Hope I’m wrong!
here we go…. historical perspective
“Lunar Landing, The Mission of Surveyor I”
ASM Film Preservation Project: Film # ASM_016
https://youtu.be/WNuPx6t90gE
(15:18)
Wayne: Speaking of Surveyor, I plan on writing about this next week. It seems some historical context is definitely needed when it comes to unmanned lunar landers.
Bob will see this when he wakes up, but a couple hours ago, Intuitive Machines tweeted out more good news: “After troubleshooting communications, flight controllers have confirmed Odysseus is upright and starting to send data. Right now, we are working to downlink the first images from the lunar surface.”
Hopefully, we’ll have some great photos in the morning.
Can’t wait to see Bob’s look at Surveyor 1. Luna 1 might have beat it by a few months, but it returned a lot more valuable information – valuable especially for the Apollo program.
Richard M: My first comment is astonishment that you think I’m asleep when it is only 10 pm in Arizona. I am a night person, always have been. For me to be in bed before 1 am would be a miracle indeed. :)
Secondly, as I don’t do X and my X stringer Jay is off on a DX ham expedition in the Solomon Islands, I would love the link to that X tweet. Can you provide?
As for Surveyor, I will be writing about the entire Surveyor program. It contrasts starkly with what we see today.
Mr. Z.,
Good deal!
This is very good; starts about 15 minutes before descent:
Surveyor 1 Landing
CBS News live coverage
https://youtu.be/sqLtNzB_S18
41:35
wayne: Gosh, I vaguely think I watched this broadcast as a 13-year-old.
CBS News Guy = George Herman
Is this thing alive, on the Moon?
I hate to be critical but… “faint signals” and zero HD pictures, do not inspire confidence.
Star Trek: OS S02E13
->reset, energize, cross circuit to A, cross circuit to B.
https://youtu.be/krmrpDUzcIk?t=54
52 years!
https://twitter.com/Int_Machines
I didnt see anything on X link, but they had an update on their website.
https://www.intuitivemachines.com/im-1
“Lunar Surface Day One Update
Odysseus is alive and well. Flight controllers are communicating and commanding the vehicle to download science data. The lander has good telemetry and solar charging. We continue to learn more about the vehicle’s specific information (Lat/Lon), overall health, and attitude (orientation). Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus will participate in a press conference later today to discuss this historic moment. Press conference information will be coordinated with NASA and published shortly. ” -2/23/24 0818 CST
The evil suitors are DOOMED !
Sorry to assume you had gone to bed, Bob!
Probably pointless to post now, but these are Intuitive Machine’s update tweets:
1. After troubleshooting communications, flight controllers have confirmed Odysseus is upright and starting to send data.
Right now, we are working to downlink the first images from the lunar surface.
8:25 PM · Feb 22, 2024
https://twitter.com/Int_Machines/status/1760838333851148442
2. Lunar Surface Day One Update (23FEB2024 0818 CST)
Odysseus is alive and well. Flight controllers are communicating and commanding the vehicle to download science data. The lander has good telemetry and solar charging.
We continue to learn more about the vehicle’s specific information (Lat/Lon), overall health, and attitude (orientation). Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus will participate in a press conference later today to discuss this historic moment. Press conference information will be coordinated with NASA and published shortly.
9:18 AM · Feb 23, 2024
https://twitter.com/Int_Machines/status/1761032731729739804
____
But, perhaps people have not seen the update about the EagleCam:
Mike Cavaliere / Feb 23, 2024, 1:30 PM
Due to complications with Odysseus’ internal navigation system — specifically concerning the software patch to navigation data to include NASA’s NDL (Navigation Doppler Lidar) payload, which is meant to ensure a soft landing — the decision was made to power down EagleCam during landing and not deploy the device during Odysseus’ final descent.
However, both the Intuitive Machines and EagleCam teams still plan to deploy EagleCam and capture images of the lander on the lunar surface as the mission continues.
The time of deployment is currently unknown.
Stay tuned! More information will be released as soon as it becomes available.
___
Of course, there is the big press conference with IM and NASA coming at 5 p.m. EST today….in just an hour and a half from now. I expect we will get much more information at that point.
https://plus.nasa.gov/scheduled-video/intuitive-machines-1-lunar-landing-news-briefing/
So… Is this thing working OK?
So apparently it is laying on its side. Functioning more or less correctly, but not upright. Fortunately it fell over in such a way that it can still get solar power. NASA and IM are putting a brave face on it, but unfortunately my initial suspicions were justified. Rats!
Ray–
Thanks for that factoid.
Why does it feel like these people aren’t forthcoming with their information?