'Odysseus' Transmits First Lunar Landing Images

Intuitive Machines' Nova-C lander establishes the southernmost landing site while maintaining communication with Earth, the company said.

Kimberly Johnson

Monday, February 26, 2024 at 02:11 PM ET

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New photos released by Intuitive Machines and NASA show Odysseus' descent and confirm its location on the moon's surface. [Courtesy: Intuitive Machines]

Key Takeaways:

Intuitive Machines' Odysseus lander successfully established the southernmost landing site on the moon and is maintaining communication with Earth.
Although the lander achieved a soft landing, it tipped over onto its side after a foot caught in the lunar surface.
This mission marks the first successful soft landing under NASA’s CLPS initiative and the first time new NASA science instruments are operating on the moon in over 50 years, targeting the resource-rich South Pole.

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Intuitive Machines’ autonomous lunar lander Odysseus has established the southernmost landing site on the moon, while also maintaining communication with Earth, the company said Monday.

New photos released Monday by the Houston-based aerospace company and NASA show Odysseus’ descent and confirm its location, days after the Nova-C lander completed its seven-day, 600,000-mile journey, softly landing in the South Pole region of the moon around 6:23 p.m. EST Thursday.