Second Private Spacecraft Set to Land on the Moon Within a Week
Intuitive Machines’ Athena Moon Landing Mission
Introduction to the Athena Mission
For the second time within just a week, another spacecraft from a private U.S. company is getting ready to land on the moon. This landing involves a robotic lander named Athena, created by a Texas-based company called Intuitive Machines. The spacecraft launched on February 26 and has spent the past week traveling to the moon, preparing for its landing mission.
The Athena lander is about the size of a dishwasher and has six legs. Its mission is to land in the moon’s south polar region and conduct a week-long search for water ice beneath the lunar surface. The targeted landing time for Athena is scheduled for Thursday at 12:32 p.m. ET.
Recent Lunar Landings
If successful, Athena will be the second vehicle to land on the moon within five days. Another robotic lander, created by Firefly Aerospace, also based in Texas, successfully landed on Sunday. This landing took place in a large basin on the near side of the moon, which is the side that always faces Earth.
NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services Program
Both the Athena and Firefly missions are part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. This initiative aims to support private companies in building moon landers. More than a dozen U.S. companies are involved in this effort. NASA’s long-term goal is to bring astronauts back to the moon, and they plan to hire some of these companies to transport scientific experiments and other materials to the lunar surface.
Intuitive Machines’ Achievements
This landing will mark the second attempt for Intuitive Machines to land on the moon. Earlier in February 2024, they made headlines by successfully landing Odysseus, the first commercially built spacecraft to touch down on the moon. This mission was especially significant as it was the first U.S. moon landing in over 50 years, since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.
Target Site and Importance of Water Ice
Both Intuitive Machines’ missions have aimed for the southern polar area of the moon. Odysseus landed near a crater called Malapert A, close to the lunar south pole. In comparison, Athena will land on a plateau located on a large flat-topped mountain named Mons Mouton. Scientists believe that water ice might be relatively abundant in the moon’s south polar region, which is crucial for future crewed missions to the moon. Water is a vital resource, especially for long-term stays.
Rovers and Technology on Board
Athena is equipped with several rovers that will help in its exploration. One of these is a suitcase-sized rover called MAPP (Mobile Autonomous Prospecting Platform), developed by a company named Lunar Outpost based in Colorado. This rover is designed to roam the landing site and capture detailed 3D images of the terrain.
Additionally, there is a small rover known as AstroAnt, which was designed by researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This tiny rover will move around on top of the MAPP rover to monitor its health and take temperature readings periodically.
Another exciting addition to this mission is a drone named Grace, which will perform a series of hops around the landing site. Grace is expected to cover around 650 feet and may explore a nearby crater to search for hydrogen traces and deposits of ice.
Communication Tests with 4G Technology
While Athena is on the lunar surface, it will also test a 4G communications system developed by Nokia. This technology could allow for better communication between different spacecraft on the moon. It will help relay data and information, enhancing the capability of future lunar missions.
Upcoming Lunar Missions
The excitement around lunar missions doesn’t stop with Athena. Later this summer, a lander and a small rover developed by a Japanese company called ispace will attempt to land near the north pole of the moon. This area is known as Mare Frigoris, which means "Sea of Cold." This ongoing exploration highlights the increasing presence of private companies in space exploration and their role in advancing lunar research.
Final Thoughts
As we watch the Athena mission unfold, it offers a glimpse into the future of space exploration. With partnerships between NASA and private companies, there is hope for discovering valuable resources on the moon, which could support future crewed missions and perhaps pave the way for human life on other celestial bodies. This next chapter in human space exploration is just beginning, with many more exciting missions on the horizon.
