Athena Lander fell in the area surrounding the southern lunar pole (in the photo) on March 6 as it is planned, but its health is unconfirmed. Credit: Dave Tyler/Galaxy/Alami
The last attempt to land on the moon’s surface went at least on March 6, when a spacecraft seems to ice called Athens apparently landed near the lunar southern pole.
Athens, which was built by the intuitive machines in Houston, Texas, remained unclear in the hours that followed, but “we do not think we are in the right situation,” said Stephen Altimos, CEO of intuitive machines, at a post -land press conference. Last year, the first spacecraft the company tried to land on the moon’s surface was also launched, although this investigation has been completed.
The disappointment of the second moon was this week. NASA stated on March 4 that communication problems will prevent them from being achieved in the moon from entering the orbit of the planned science around the moon. But not all the news is bad: I achieved the third moon craft safely on March 2.
Moon puzzle
Altemus said that more information about Athena will be available in the coming hours and days, as the company is working to obtain pictures of its multiple cameras and know what is damage and what is functional. He said that at least at the present time, the spacecraft obtained power, and the task control units were able to communicate with the science loads on board.
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Depending on its location on the surface of the moon, Athens may still be able to perform some of its expected activities. To get enough energy to continue to work, there must be at least one solar panel directed towards the sun, which remains close to the moon’s horizon at the location of landing in craftsmanship. Athens aims to work until the sun sets at the landing site about 10 days of landing.
But the main purpose of the task of searching for ice may not be accomplished. Athens exercises were supposed to bear in the lunar soil to find the ice could only work if they are close to righteousness. “We look forward to hearing what we should work with,” said Nicolas Fox, a participant in NASA. The success of other ingredients, such as Three Rovers, as well as a robotic “Qash” aimed at jumping to mysterious drilling, also depends on the position of Athens.
Intermittent record
Expectations are also dark for the Moon’s scientific task for Bruplazer, which is to create high -resolution water maps on the moon. Trailblazer was successfully launched alongside Athens on February 26, but the NASA team believes that the spacecraft is slowly in a low -power state, “the agency reported on March 5. If the mission control units are able to restore communications in the coming days, they may be able to put it in the orbit of a moon less than the optimal and come out at least a few of its planned science.