(Washington) The American private probe Odysseuson the Moon for a week, was put to sleep at the end of its main mission, but the company Intuitive Machines which developed it hopes to be able to reactivate it at the end of the lunar night.
“Good night, Odie,” the Texas startup said on X, calling the device by its nickname. “We hope to hear from you again. »
Odysseus became on February 22 the first private probe to land on the Moon, and the first American spacecraft to do so since the end of the program Apolloin 1972.
Due to a failure in its navigation system, it had approached the lunar surface too quickly during its descent, and had broken at least one of its six feet.
Once placed, it tilted and found itself tilted at about 30 degrees. But some of its solar panels were still able to continue to function and supply it with energy.
Odysseus has since transmitted photos and scientific data, including those collected by NASA instruments on board.
The lander’s mission was from the start to last around seven days, before lunar night settled over the South Pole, the region where Odysseus landed.
But on Wednesday, Intuitive Machines boss Steve Altemus said the company would try to contact the probe again “in two or three weeks,” once the sun reappears high enough above the horizon.
However, it is very uncertain whether the device, particularly its batteries, will survive the freezing cold about to set in. Even if the Japanese lunar probe SLIM managed to do it this month.
Both NASA and Intuitive Machines have called the lunar sojourn aOdysseus of success.
This mission, as well as two others from Intuitive Machines planned this year, are part of NASA’s new CLPS program, which has ordered several companies to transport its scientific equipment.
The agency thus hopes to be able to make the trip more often and for less money than by developing lunar vehicles for this purpose itself.
Odysseus is the probe having landed furthest south on the Moon, an area which is of particular interest to the great powers because there is water there in the form of ice, which could be exploited.
NASA wants to explore this region using robots like this before sending its astronauts there, as part of its Artemis missions.
“Before its electricity runs out, Odysseus made a fitting farewell transmission,” Intuitive Machines said Thursday, accompanying its message with an image of the lunar surface taken last week, with Earth in the background.
“A subtle reminder of the presence of humanity in the Universe,” said the company.