TechyMag.com - is an online magazine where you can find news and updates on modern technologies


Back
Science and Space

Odysseus mission to the moon nearly crashed, due to a switch being turned off - saved by luck and skill

Odysseus mission to the moon nearly crashed, due to a switch being turned off - saved by luck and skill
0 0 4 0

Last week the Intuitive Machines Odysseus spacecraft finally landed on the Moon, although the mission had its difficulties - the team reported problems with a switch that was supposed to activate lasers for a safe landing.

Fortunately, the spacecraft had an experimental NASA navigation system on board, and engineers developed a software patch at the last minute to obtain the necessary height and speed data through it and ensure a safe landing of the spacecraft.

Photo taken by Odysseus approximately 35 seconds after flipping over.

Despite all the efforts, Intuitive Machines eventually reported that Odysseus was on its side and its solar panels were facing the wrong way - as of Monday evening, the module was still sending data and images, but it will likely run out of energy today (at the moment, there have been no updates on the mission's progress).