# **Intuitive Machines’ Athena Lander Encounters Obstacles in Lunar Touchdown**
## **Introduction**
On Thursday, engineers at Intuitive Machines watched with bated breath as their newest lunar lander, **Athena**, descended towards the lunar surface. This mission represented the company’s second endeavor for a successful lunar touchdown after last year’s **Odysseus** mission, which resulted in the spacecraft rolling over upon landing. Despite thorough preparations and system checks, Athena faced similar challenges, leaving engineers unsure about its exact position after landing.
## **The Final Descent**
As Athena approached the Moon, Intuitive Machines’ engineers closely tracked its **laser-based altimeters**, essential for measuring altitude and ensuring a smooth landing. However, much like Odysseus, the altimeters delivered **erratic readings**, complicating the lander’s ability to accurately assess its distance from the surface.
Tim Crain, the company’s **Chief Technology Officer**, shared that the team was optimistic the signal-to-noise ratio would enhance as Athena neared the Moon. Unfortunately, the problem persisted, resulting in the lander descending with **limited awareness of altitude**. Although its **liquid oxygen and methane propulsion system** operated correctly, the spacecraft ultimately landed without complete knowledge of its precise position.
## **Uncertain Orientation**
After landing, Intuitive Machines managed to establish contact with Athena and generate power from its **solar arrays**. However, engineers found it challenging to ascertain the lander’s exact orientation. Data from an **inertial measurement unit** suggested that Athena **may have tipped onto its side**, similar to the fate of Odysseus during its touchdown last year.
Steve Altemus, **CEO of Intuitive Machines**, stressed the importance of gathering more data to confirm Athena’s exact position. “I would like to get a picture,” he remarked. “I would like to get more data before we can determine the orientation.”
## **Impact on the Mission**
Athena carried several **crucial payloads**, including NASA’s **PRIME-1 experiment**, intended to drill into the lunar surface searching for **water ice**. The mission was projected to last for **two weeks**, powered by solar energy. However, due to the lander’s current orientation, it is not harnessing **full solar energy**, potentially affecting its operational abilities in the upcoming days.
Despite these setbacks, Athena successfully touched down close to its intended target—the **Mons Mouton region**, a flat-topped mountain situated about **100 miles from the lunar south pole**. This achievement marks one of the most southern landings ever accomplished on the Moon.
## **NASA’s Perspective**
NASA officials recognized the obstacles encountered by Intuitive Machines but also emphasized the broader success of recent commercial lunar missions. **Nicola Fox**, NASA’s **Chief of Science**, noted that there are currently **two operational U.S. spacecraft** on the Moon—Athena and **Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander**, which arrived just four days prior.
“This is a community,” Fox stated. “We all share in each other’s successes. And we all empathize with each other’s challenges.”
NASA has been actively backing **commercial lunar missions**, acknowledging the risks involved in pioneering private sector space investigations. While only government-led missions from the **United States, Soviet Union, China, and India** have previously achieved soft landings on the Moon, enterprises like Intuitive Machines and Firefly Aerospace are pushing the frontiers of **commercial space travel**.
## **Financial and Industry Impact**
The hurdles faced by Intuitive Machines have led to an immediate effect on the company’s financial health. On the day of the landing, the company’s stock opened at **$13.65**, but closed at **$11.26**. In **after-hours trading**, the stock further decreased to about **$8**.
Notwithstanding these challenges, the company remains devoted to enhancing lunar exploration. The insights gained from Athena’s landing are likely to shape future missions, aiding in the improvement of **altimeter technology** and enhancing landing accuracy.
## **Conclusion**
The mission of the Athena lander signifies both **advancements and challenges** for Intuitive Machines and the landscape of commercial lunar exploration as a whole. While the spacecraft successfully arrived on the Moon and established communication, its **ambiguous orientation** and **altimeter complications** underscore the obstacles of landing on another celestial body.
As NASA and private enterprises continue to collaborate on lunar exploration, each mission—whether successful or unsuccessful—provides invaluable lessons that will influence the future of **human and robotic presence on the Moon**.
