A **15-foot-high spacecraft** has recently touched down on the **moon**, although the landing wasn’t entirely without issues.
The **NASA-backed** mission, managed by **Intuitive Machines based in Houston**, achieved a successful lunar landing on **March 6**. Nonetheless, engineers are still investigating its precise positioning and state. A significant unknown remains whether the spacecraft, referred to as **Athena**, is resting on its side.
While Athena operated effectively during its **trip to and around the moon**, the landing complications echo a similar occurrence from last year. In that instance, the first government-supported mission of Intuitive Machines led to a **hard landing**, resulting in the spacecraft sustaining damage to a leg and ending up on its side.
>”I think we can agree, especially today, that landing on the moon is exceptionally challenging,” stated **Nicola Fox**, head of **NASA’s Science Mission Directorate**, during a press briefing on March 6.
As it made its final approach, Athena activated its **thrusters** to decrease speeds from around **4,000 mph**. Intuitive Machines believes the spacecraft landed on **Mons Mouton**, a prominent lunar peak near the **moon’s south pole**, which stands **20,000 feet** above the surrounding landscape. However, it is still uncertain how far Athena is from its target landing area. This locale is particularly significant due to the presence of **water ice** and its proximity to where **NASA intends to send astronauts in 2027**.
Regardless of the uncertain landing conditions, Athena is **absorbing sunlight and charging**, which enables it to communicate with the engineers at Intuitive Machines. However, much of the mission’s success still hangs in the balance.
>”We believe we’ve achieved significant success up to this point,” remarked **Steve Altemus**, CEO of Intuitive Machines. “But we suspect we aren’t in the correct orientation on the surface of the moon again.”
### Investigating Lunar Resources
A vital aspect of Athena’s mission includes a **NASA drill**, named **PRIME-1**, aimed at investigating the moon’s south pole for valuable resources. The drill is designed to excavate **three feet beneath the surface**, while a **spectrometer** examines the material for **water and other elements**. However, it is uncertain if the drill can operate effectively if the spacecraft is not positioned optimally. NASA and Intuitive Machines will assess this in the upcoming weeks.
The capacity to **extract water ice** is essential for upcoming lunar missions. NASA has highlighted that this resource might be utilized for producing **potable water, oxygen, and rocket propellant**. Scientists speculate that water could have been delivered to the moon via **comet and meteor impacts** or through **natural lunar processes** such as vapor escaping from beneath the surface.
Without successfully identifying and utilizing this ice, the U.S. will face challenges in creating a **sustained lunar presence**, which is a primary objective of NASA’s **Artemis program**.
### Expanding Commercial Lunar Exploration
Athena’s mission is part of an expanding movement in **commercial space exploration**. It joins the **Blue Ghost lander**, developed by **Texas-based Firefly Aerospace**, which **successfully landed** on the moon’s near side on **March 2**. Both endeavors are part of NASA’s **Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program**, which bolsters robotic scientific and technological initiatives in anticipation of future **crewed lunar missions**.
### The Challenges of Lunar Landings
Landing on the moon remains **extremely challenging** due to its absence of atmosphere, which precludes natural slowing aids such as **parachutes**. Spacecraft depend entirely on **thrusters** to manage their descent onto a rugged surface dotted with **craters and uneven terrain**.
While **China and India** have achieved **recent lunar landing triumphs**, other attempts have encountered hurdles. In **2024**, Intuitive Machines’ **Odysseus spacecraft** faced damage during a difficult landing, and a **Japanese lander** ended up **upside down** upon arrival.
Athena also carried a **small rover and hopper**, created to trial **lunar exploration technologies**. It remains to be seen if these devices can successfully deploy and traverse the moon’s surface.
Despite these risks, NASA maintains its commitment to these high-stakes missions.
>”The risk will always exist,” stated NASA’s Nicola Fox.
These robotic missions are laying the groundwork for future **human exploration**, aiding scientists and engineers in refining the technology required for a **sustained lunar presence**.