Intuitive Machines’ Athena space craft officially lands on moon for historic water-hunting mission but its status is unclear

It is expected to make a robotic land called Athens, its final descent to the southern pole of the moon on Thursday, making it the second drop in the moon for an American company, especially this week only.

Nassa certain Athens, which was built by Houston -based intuitive machines, landed on the surface of the moon at approximately 12:30 pm Easter on Thursday. During a press conference at 4 pm, the CEO of the intuitive machines Steve Altimos said that the team believed that Athens is “in the vicinity” of its intended location, although its exact location – and its condition – is still unknown.

“I must tell you that we do not believe that we are in the right situation on the surface of the moon until now,” Altemus said, indicating that the drop may not be in a straight position.

Athens is appointed to land on Mons MoutonA flat mount, about 100 miles from the southern pole of the moon. If it succeeds, this would represent the closest land to the Antarctic until now. Athens carry NASA exercises This aims to withdraw and analyze lunar soil to see if there is frozen water and other vehicles in the region.

ATHENA, a 15 -foot robotic spacecraft, is almost similar OdysseusAnother landing of the intuitive machines that landed on the moon in February 2024.

Cleiton Turner, director of NASA’s Langlie Research Center, suggested at the press conference on Thursday afternoon that even if Athena is not erect, NASA training is still likely to be launched and its intended study of the moon’s soil will be carried out.

“There are a large number of goals that we can achieve.”

What is the task of Athens on the moon?

If Athena remains in a straight position, it is expected to publish a called Rover called Independent mobile phone excavation platform (MAPP). It is a four -wheel vehicle, which was built by the location of the satellite residing in Colorado, which will test cellular communications equipment in the region and create a 3D map of the moon’s surface. If things go well, it will be Mapp The first American robot on the moon.

“Voyage 1 is not only related to exploration – it proves that the private industry can work and maintain the economic value on the moon, preserve and create it.” In February 26 statement. “These historical achievements create lunar infrastructure in the real world, the use of resources, and planetary mobility-basic steps towards a permanent human presence outside the earth.”

Then you will send a mini -truce, Athena, Grace calledA small robot designed to search the moon for water.

But an essential part of ATHENA is NASA’s PRIME-1 experience, which includes drilling exercises in the depth of the moon, the search for water ice and soil analysis. According to NasaThis information will help “scientists better understand the moon’s resources.”

If there is evidence of water, NASA is keen to analyze it in preparation for sending more astronauts to the moon as part of Artemis programWho has a great goal in training astronauts on the moon as a starting stone for the task of sending them to Mars.

“The real goal is Mars,” said retired NASA astronauts, Stephen Swanson, about the Artemis program In an interview in 2020. “We will use the moon as a test because Mars is a very difficult task.”

He added: “In addition to Mars, we can also use the moon as a test of other things – to see how we can already collect materials from the moon itself and we may use it to make our fuel.”

This is the second American spacecraft that lands on the surface of the moon this week

Another company launched by Texas, Firefly Aerospace, launched, Blue Ghost Hander In January and landed on the surface of the moon on Sunday morning. This was Firefly Aerospace first trip to the moonWith the help of NASA’s Moon Campaign Services Program.

Since landing, Blue Ghost was Send photos and data One of the experiments that were conducted on the moon. Like Athens, the spacecraft collected samples of lunar soil.