Odysseus Lunar Module Signs Off with a Farewell Snapshot from the Moon
The snapshot, showcasing Earth's tiny crescent against the lunar horizon, symbolizes the fragile yet profound connection between our world and the vast universe.
The Odysseus lunar module, made by Intuitive Machines, said its temporary goodbye by sending one last picture to Earth. As night descended on its location, rendering its operations dormant due to the extreme drop in temperature to below -100 degrees Celsius, Odysseus managed to send a farewell snapshot capturing the lunar surface, the legs it landed on, and a small view of the Earth illuminated by the sun.
Before its power was depleted, Odysseus completed a fitting farewell transmission. Received today, this image from February 22nd showcases the crescent Earth in the backdrop, a subtle reminder of humanity’s presence in the universe.
— Intuitive Machines (@Int_Machines) February 29, 2024
Goodnight, Odie. We hope to hear from you… pic.twitter.com/RwOWsH1TSz
Even though it sent this photo successfully, Odysseus had some problems. It moved faster than expected when landing, which caused some damage. It ended up tilting in a way it wasn't supposed to, which made it hard to send messages back to Earth and blocked sunlight from hitting some of its solar panels. Still, it was able to do most of its planned work and collect some information before it went into its sleeping mode.
Intuitive Machines is hopeful because a similar space probe from Japan, called SLIM, was able to wake up after a long, cold night on the Moon and start working again, even though this doesn't happen often.