Odysseus, the American robotic spacecraft that made history by landing on the moon last week, is facing its final moments as it is likely to die in the next day or so. The spacecraft, built and operated by Intuitive Machines, landed successfully on the lunar surface but ended up tipped over on its side during the landing process.
Communications with Odysseus remain limited, and Intuitive Machines has stated that they will end when sunlight is no longer shining on the spacecraft’s solar panels. This will lead to the draining of the spacecraft’s batteries, as it is not designed to survive the extreme temperatures of the lunar night.
Despite its impending demise, Odysseus has provided valuable data, including images taken during its descent and information about safe landing sites within the south pole region of the moon. This information could prove crucial for future missions as space agencies look to explore and potentially utilize resources on the moon.
As Odysseus fades, another lunar lander, JAXA’s SLIM, unexpectedly revived after experiencing similar challenges with its landing orientation and solar panel exposure. While SLIM’s revival was short-lived due to high temperatures, JAXA plans to resume its scientific studies once temperatures fall.
While the fate of Odysseus seems sealed, there is a slim possibility that it may wake again after the lunar night passes. For now, the world watches as these robotic explorers push the boundaries of space exploration and pave the way for future missions to the moon and beyond.
