00:00 Odysseus, the first private US spacecraft to land on the Moon, has encountered an unexpected
00:07 turn of events.
00:08 Odysseus, operated by Intuitive Machines, initially made history on February 22 when
00:14 it successfully landed on the lunar surface, marking the first time a private company in
00:19 the US achieved such a feat.
00:21 However, the triumph was short-lived as the spacecraft faced challenges during its descent,
00:27 resulting in an awkward landing near the lunar South Pole.
00:30 Despite the unexpected landing position, Odysseus has demonstrated resilience beyond our expectations.
00:36 The six-legged lander, carrying six NASA experiments valued at $118 million, encountered a setback
00:43 last week when it broke its leg up touchdown, tipping over and hindering its operations.
00:50 The conclusion came on Thursday as flight controllers received the last image from Odysseus,
00:55 instructing its computer and power systems to enter standby mode.
01:00 This precautionary measure is aimed at preserving the lander's potential to reawaken in the
01:04 coming weeks.
01:06 Intuitive Machines spokesperson Josh Marshall commented on the situation, stating that the
01:11 final actions depleted the lander's batteries, effectively putting Odysseus into a prolonged
01:16 hibernation.
01:17 The company bid farewell to the spacecraft via social media, saying, "Good night, Ody.
01:22 We hope to hear from you again."
01:24 Despite the challenges, Odysseus represents a significant milestone in NASA's commercial
01:28 lunar delivery program.
01:30 Previous attempts by private companies had not succeeded, with one lander crashing back
01:34 to Earth in January.
01:36 NASA sees these private landers as critical steps towards future manned missions expected
01:41 to occur in the coming years.
01:43 Before Odysseus, the last U.S. moon landing was conducted by Apollo 17 astronauts Gene
01:48 Cernan and Harrison Schmitt in 1972.
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