[ad_1]
\n<\/p>\n
The Odysseus spacecraft made by Houston-based Intuitive Machines has successfully landed on the surface of the moon. It marks the first time a spacecraft from a private company has landed on the lunar surface, and it\u2019s the first US-made craft to reach the moon since the Apollo missions.<\/p>\n
Odysseus was carrying NASA instruments, which the space agency said would be used to help prepare for future crewed missions to the moon under the <\/a>. NASA confirmed the landing happened at 6:23 PM ET on February 22. The lander <\/a> from Earth on February 15, with the help of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.<\/p>\n According to <\/em><\/a>, there were some \u201ctechnical issues with the flight\u201d that delayed the landing for a couple of hours. Intuitive Machines CTO Tim Crain told the paper that \u201cOdysseus is definitely on the moon and operating but it remains to be seen whether the mission can achieve its objectives.\u201d Odysseus has a limited window of about a week to send data back down to Earth before darkness sets in and makes the solar-powered craft inoperable.<\/p>\n Intuitive Machines wasn\u2019t the first private company to attempt a landing. Astrobotic made <\/a> last month with its Peregrine lander, but was unsuccessful. Intuitive Machines is planning to launch <\/a> lunar landers this year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n