NASA, Private Partners Proclaim Lunar Landing Success

‘We were collaboratively working together to find solutions so that the spacecraft could live,’ CLPS project scientist says.

Odysseus lunar lander over the near side of the moon following lunar orbit insertion, on Feb. 21, 2024. Intuitive Machines via AP

NASA and Intuitive Machines leaders proclaimed the landing of its Odysseus moon lander a complete success and shared the story of how they were able to salvage the mission after a botched soft landing.

“This is the first time in the 21st century the United States has landed equipment on the surface of the moon, and we’re getting data back,” , said Joel Kearns, deputy associate administrator of Exploration in NASA’s Science Mission Directorate.