Sunday, February 25, 2024

NASA Confirms Odysseus Lander Tipped Onto Its Side

 NASA has confirmed that the Odysseus lander tipped over on its side after landing on the Moon last week. From a Daily Mail article on the topic:

     Odysseus is believed to be getting solar power, but laying on its side is hindering radio transmission.

    Altemus explained in a press conference that the craft's foot caught the surface while moving sideways, resulting in the lander tipping onto a rock.

    The majority of the payloads are in view, allowing each to collect science.

    'We are hopeful the top deck solar array is not damaged and that the sun comes around the lander to get some power,' said Altemus, as he used a model to show Odysseus' position on the moon.

    He continued to explain in the press conference that Odysseus has much of its operating abilities regardless of being tipped over.

Even having tipped over, the mission appears to be mostly a success; although it all depends on whether it will be able to charge its batteries. Odysseus isn't the only lander that has tipped over lately. I wonder if the shape--tall with a relatively narrow base even with the landing legs extended--contributed to it. The Apollo landers were, by comparison, relatively squat with a wide base.

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