America has returned to the moon for the first time since 1972 with the touchdown of Intuitive Machines’ Odysseus lander Thursday afternoon, marking the first successful private moon mission.
The final touchdown grew tense after the main navigation system failed, and the ship had to use experimental NASA technology to land. The lander’s communications signals were weak but still strong enough to confirm the landing.
The mission was largely funded by $118 million paid to Intuitive Machines by NASA to carry science equipment. A different company, Astrobotic Technology, attempted a moon mission last month, but it failed shortly after launch.
