Odysseus, built by Intuitive Machines, achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first U.S.-built spacecraft to land on the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972, marking the first moon landing by a private company.
- The spacecraft landed on February 23, 2024, near a crater called Malapert A, about 186 miles from the Moon’s south pole.
- The descent was tense due to a last-minute navigation sensor malfunction, but engineers managed to ensure a successful landing.
- Communication confirmation was awaited anxiously after touchdown, and a faint signal eventually confirmed Odysseus’ survival, picked up by a communications antenna in the United Kingdom.
- NASA Administrator Bill Nelson commended Intuitive Machines, SpaceX (the launch provider for Odysseus), and NASA’s commercial moon program, highlighting the significance of collaboration with private companies.
- Two hours after landing, Odysseus began sending data, with the team eagerly anticipating the first images from the lunar surface.
Q: What is the name of the first private spacecraft to land on the Moon?
a) Apollo 11
b) Odyssey
c) Odysseus
d) Artemis
Ans : c) Odysseus
Q: Which private company built the Odysseus spacecraft?
a) SpaceX
b) Intuitive Machines
c) Blue Origin
d) Boeing
Ans : b) Intuitive Machines
