I made a panoramic projection of the landing image from the Intuitive Machines Odysseus lander.
The touchdown was faster than anticipated, so you can literally see the landing legs breaking off in that image.
Without communications for 15 minutes, the lander will start taking actions to reestablish communications .. power-cycling radios, switching antennas, etc.
Intuitive Machines: "After troubleshooting communications, flight controllers have confirmed Odysseus is upright and starting to send data.
Right now, we are working to downlink the first images from the lunar surface."
Intuitive Machines: "Lunar Surface Day One Update (23FEB2024 0818 CST)
Odysseus is alive and well. Flight controllers are communicating and commanding the vehicle to download science data. The lander has good telemetry and solar charging.
Intuitive Machines: "We continue to learn more about the vehicle’s specific information (Lat/Lon), overall health, and attitude (orientation). Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus will participate in a press conference later today to discuss this historic moment. Press conference information will be coordinated with NASA and published shortly."
The lander is stable, near or at the intended landing site.
The batteries are being charged.
Communications are established and data is being downloaded.
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter will attempt to locate the lander this weekend.
The lander likely caught one of its feet on the surface, fell, and is laying roughly horizontally with the top probably resting on a rock.
The side of the lander toward the surface has no active payloads, just a static art installation.
The laser range finders did not work because a safety switch had not been disabled before launch. It is a physical switch and is not software-controllable.
Note: There are more images in the article. Mastodon would not support attaching the GIF image. The remaining image in the article is the same as the attached image but without the arrow so I didn't bother to attach it.
"Flight Controllers continue to communicate with Odysseus. This morning, Odysseus efficiently sent payload science data and imagery in furtherance of the Company’s mission objectives. Flight controllers are working on final determination of battery life on the lander, which may continue up to an additional 10-20 hours.
"The images included here are the closest observations of any spaceflight mission to the south pole region of the Moon. Odysseus is quite the photographer, capturing this image approximately 30 meters above the lunar surface while his main engine throttled down more than 24,000 mph. Another day of exploration on the south pole region of the Moon."
NASA press release:
NASA, Intuitive Machines to Discuss Moon Mission, Science Successes
"NASA and Intuitive Machines will co-host a televised news conference at 2 p.m. EST Wednesday, Feb. 28, from the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston to highlight the company’s first mission, known as IM-1."
"Odysseus continues to generate solar power on the Moon, allowing flight controllers to continue gathering data from the south pole region in furtherance of the IM-1 Mission objectives.
Flight controllers are analyzing new solar charging data and using the additional time to maximize tasks that further future exploration."
"Intuitive Machines will participate in a news conference with NASA at the Johnson Space Center in Houston on February 28, 2024, at 2:00 pm ET to discuss the Company’s historic lunar mission."
Intuitive Machines:
Lunar Surface Day Seven Update
"Still kicking.
Odysseus continues to operate on the lunar surface. At approximately 11:00 am CST, flight controllers intend to downlink additional data, and command Odie into a configuration that he may phone home if and when he wakes up when the sun rises again."
Intuitive Machines: "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.