On January 25, 2024, the U.S. Intuitive Machines' Odysseus lunar lander, carrying NASA scientific instruments and commercial payloads, launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to begin its journey to the moon. This is the first time in 52 years that the United States has attempted to achieve a soft landing on the surface of the moon, and it is also another impact of the US private enterprise in the field of lunar exploration.
The launch of Odysseus took place a month after the failure of the Peregrine 1 mission to the moon. On December 8 last year, the Peregrine 1 lander of the American company Astrobotic was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on a Vulcan Centaur rocket, and was originally planned to land on the surface of the moon and deploy a number of scientific and commercial payloads, including flags and memorabilia of some countries and institutions. However, due to a malfunction of the lander's propulsion system, the propellant leaked, and the flight could not be continued, and eventually re-entered the atmosphere over the South Pacific Ocean, where it burned out.
The failure of the Peregrine 1 has cast a shadow over the US "Return to the Moon" program. The program is part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, launched in 2019, to prepare for future manned lunar missions and lunar base construction by partnering with the private sector to deliver a variety of scientific and technical payloads to the moon in a cost-effective and efficient manner.
Peregrine 1 was the first mission of the CLPS program and the first U.S. mission to attempt a soft landing on the lunar surface since the Apollo 17 moon landing in 1972. If successful, it will be a historic achievement for the United States and will also set a good example for the private sector in the United States in the field of lunar exploration. However, it backfired, and it became a tragedy, shattering America's dream of the moon once again.
The launch of the Odysseus is a manifestation of the rapid adjustment and recovery of the United States after the failure of the Peregrine Falcon 1, and is also a manifestation of the United States' persistence and confidence in lunar exploration. Unlike Peregrine 1, Odysseus' landing site is located in a crater near the moon's south pole, an area of great scientific value because of the possible presence of water ice and other useful resources, as well as an ideal location for a future lunar base.
The mission goal of Odysseus is to conduct a series of scientific experiments and technical verification after landing on the lunar surface, including studying the physical properties of the lunar surface, the radiation status of the lunar environment, and the communication and navigation capabilities between the lunar surface and the earth. In addition, the Odysseus will deploy a number of commercial payloads, including flags and souvenirs of a number of countries and institutions, as well as items for popular science and educational projects.
February** Dynamic Incentive Program
The mission cycle of the Odysseus is expected to be 14 days, that is, the lunar day. During this time, it will provide itself with electricity through solar panels, while maintaining contact with the Earth, transmitting data and images. Before the moon's night, it will shut down all systems and go to hibernation, waiting for the next wake-up.
The Odysseus mission is another challenge for the US private sector in the field of lunar exploration, and it is also another opportunity for the US "return to the moon" program. If successful, it will open a new chapter in U.S. lunar exploration and commercial activities, and will also add new luster to the U.S. space industry. If it fails, it will bring a new blow to the US lunar dream, and it will also bring new pressure to the US space competition.
In any case, the fate of the "Odysseus" will attract the attention and expectations of the whole world. Let us wish it success in completing its mission, contributing to the exploration and utilization of the moon by mankind, and adding new impetus to the "return to the moon" program of the United States.