Intuitive Machines\u2019 stock fell more than 30% after hours Friday after the space-exploration company said that its Odysseus lunar lander had fallen on its side while landing near the moon\u2019s south pole, hampering its communications with Earth.<\/p>\n
Intuitive Machines While the spacecraft still has \u201cquite a bit of operational capability,\u201d Altemus said some of its antennas were pointed toward the moon\u2019s surface, limiting its ability to communicate with flight controllers and transmit data. He said the lander may have broken one of its six legs after descending too fast, and was now possibly leaning against a rock.<\/p>\n The news sent Houston-based Intuitive Machines\u2019 shares down 31.7% after hours, after they had gained 15.8% in regular trading Friday on the back of Odysseus\u2019 landing. The company had initially said that the spacecraft was upright<\/a> Thursday when it became the first commercial lander to successfully reach the moon<\/a>, though the extent of that success could now be in doubt given the mission\u2019s complications.<\/p>\n Odysseus \u2014 also the first American spacecraft to reach the moon since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972<\/a> \u2014 is carrying science and technology instruments on behalf of NASA. The space agency is sponsoring and supporting the mission, which launched on Feb. 15, as it seeks to return astronauts to the moon as soon as 2026<\/a> via its Artemis program.<\/p>\n Other commercial attempts at moon landings have also faced problems in recent years. In 2019, Israel\u2019s Beresheet attempted to become the first private lander on the lunar surface, but\u00a0crashed<\/a>\u00a0during its landing attempt. Four years later, Japan\u2019s private Hakuto-R mission also\u00a0failed to achieve a \u201csoft landing\u201d<\/a>\u00a0on the moon.<\/p>\n Last month, private U.S.-based space company Astrobotic Technology ended its\u00a0troubled mission<\/a>\u00a0to place its Peregrine lander on the moon.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\n Chief Executive Steve Altemus said Friday that Odysseus \u201ccaught a foot in the surface [of the moon] and tipped\u201d on its side while touching down on Thursday, according to the Associated Press.<\/p>\n