China News Service, February 23 (Xinhua) According to comprehensive US media reports, on the 22nd local time, the lunar lander "Odysseus" developed by the American company "Intuition Machines" landed on the moon.
Image source: Screenshot of NBC report
The National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) stated that this was the first time a U.S. spacecraft landed on the moon in more than 50 years.
According to reports, the lander developed by "Intuition Machine" landed on the lunar surface at around 6:23 pm Eastern Time.
The lander is the first U.S. spacecraft to land on the moon since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.
CNN reported that Steve Altmos, CEO of "Intuition Machines", announced in a live webcast that "Odysseus" is transmitting signals from the lunar surface.
"I know it's nerve-wracking, but we're transmitting. Welcome to the moon," Artemos said.
According to reports, the exact status of the lander is unclear.
But the company confirmed it had been contacted.
Previous reports stated that "Odysseus" was launched from Florida on February 15. It is a hexagonal cylinder, 4 meters high, 1.57 meters wide, with 6 landing legs, carrying NASA ) a variety of scientific instruments and commercial payloads, weighing approximately 1,900 kilograms when fully loaded with propellant.
According to NASA's official website, the goals of this mission include studying the interaction between the lander's engine plume and the lunar surface, radio astronomy, the interaction between space weather and the lunar surface, the lander's precise landing technology, and communication and navigation capabilities.