A new chapter in lunar exploration
After more than 50 years, the United States has achieved a historic milestone by returning to the Moon. However, the expected success of this lunar mission has been challenged by a series of unexpected setbacks.
The crashed landing of the Odysseus module
The lander, named Odysseus, experienced difficulties reaching the lunar surface. Instead of landing softly, the module fell on its side, which has led to a change of plans in the mission.
The company Intuitive Machines, in charge of the mission, has reported that flight control engineers expect to lose contact with the ship in the coming days. This means that the mission will be interrupted only 5 days after landing.
The fall of the module has limited the charging time of the batteries, which shortens the duration of the mission on the Moon. Despite this, flight controllers are working hard to collect data until the solar panels stop receiving sunlight.
Human errors and risky decisions
It has been revealed that possible human errors during the flight of the laser-guided rangefinders could have contributed to the module’s accident. The company Intuitive Machines decided not to conduct a pre-launch test of the laser system to save time and money, which resulted in the loss of the range finders.
Although it is recognized that additional measures could have been taken to avoid this problem, the company assumed the risk and now faces the consequences of this decision.
Challenges on the lunar surface
Despite the setbacks, the Odysseus module has been operational for a few days on the lunar surface. However, its tilted position has limited the solar panels’ exposure to sunlight, which affects the recharging of the batteries.
In addition, the orientation of the antennas has made communications with Earth difficult. Despite these challenges, the spacecraft has managed to land in a small crater near the lunar south pole, marking a milestone in space exploration.
Conclusions
Although the United States’ return to the Moon has not been as successful as expected, this mission represents an important step in space exploration. Challenges and setbacks are part of the learning process and will improve future lunar missions.
We hope that scientists and astronauts will continue to work hard to overcome these obstacles and achieve lasting success in the exploration of our natural satellite, the Moon.
