Photographers capture the moment a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying Intuitive Machines' second lunar lander launches from Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Wednesday, February 26, 2025. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Houston-based space startup Intuitive Machines' latest moon mission seems to have hit a snag. The company’s Athena lander, which was supposed to make a controlled touchdown, may not be standing upright on the lunar surface, similar to its predecessor, Odysseus.
Another Tough Landing for Intuitive Machines
Intuitive Machines, one of the private firms collaborating with NASA to return the U.S. to the moon, faced another setback on Thursday. CEO Steve Altemus admitted during a news conference that the lander’s orientation was likely off. "We don’t believe we’re in the correct attitude on the surface of the moon, yet again," he said.
This is the company’s second lunar landing attempt. A year ago, its Odysseus lander suffered a hard touchdown due to a faulty laser altimeter, causing it to fall on its side and rendering many onboard experiments useless.
Technical Challenges and Mission Status
The Athena lander, carrying 11 scientific instruments, was aimed at a site 100 miles (160 km) from the moon’s South Pole. The touchdown was scheduled for 12:32 p.m. ET (1732 GMT), but data suggested the engine was still running at that time. Minutes later, the lander’s engine was shut down, confirming it had reached the surface, though its exact position remained uncertain.
Officials reported issues with the laser range finders, which help guide a soft landing. Despite these problems, Athena continues to send data back to Earth. However, its compromised positioning could impact power generation, shortening the mission's duration.
Stock Plunge and Industry Impact
The news hit Intuitive Machines hard financially. Following the announcement, the company’s stock dropped by 29% in after-hours trading. The setback also highlights the risks of private sector involvement in lunar exploration, despite the cost benefits compared to traditional government-led missions.
The Race to the Moon Heats Up
Private companies like Intuitive Machines, Firefly Aerospace, and Astrobotic Technology are working with NASA under the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. This initiative funds low-cost lunar missions to scout the moon before U.S. astronauts return around 2027.
Meanwhile, space-faring nations continue making strides in lunar exploration. India’s Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed near the South Pole in 2023, a region thought to hold valuable resources like subsurface ice, which could be converted into rocket fuel. Five countries—the U.S., China, Russia, India, and Japan—have successfully executed soft landings. Both the U.S. and China plan to send astronauts to the moon within this decade.
While Intuitive Machines struggles with another challenging landing, its competitor, Firefly Aerospace, recently celebrated a clean touchdown with its Blue Ghost lander. This marks the most successful private moon landing to date.
