Private Spacecraft Athena Attempts Historic Moon Landing

The robotic lander, known as Athena, has been developed by the Texas-based company Intuitive Machines. Launched into space on February 26, Athena has spent the past week making its way to the moon. This six-legged craft, roughly the size of a dishwasher, aims to land in the moon’s south polar region and spend a week searching for potential water ice beneath the lunar surface.

Significance of the Athena Mission

If successful, Athena will become the second vehicle to touch down on the moon within just five days. A separate mission, also based in Texas, successfully landed on Sunday within a vast 350-mile-wide basin on the near side of the moon, the side that perpetually faces Earth. Both missions are part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, which was established to foster the development of moon landers by private-sector companies.

NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services Program

More than a dozen U.S. companies are participating in this initiative, which is a crucial component of NASA’s broader objective to return astronauts to the moon. The Athena landing marks the second moonshot for Intuitive Machines, which made history in February 2024 by becoming the first private company to land on the moon. This milestone was also significant as it marked the first time an American spacecraft had touched down on the lunar surface in over 50 years, since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

Targeting the Moon’s South Polar Region

Both of Intuitive Machines’ missions have focused on the moon’s south polar area. The previous lander, named Odysseus, successfully landed near a crater called Malapert A, close to the lunar south pole. In contrast, Athena is targeting a plateau on a massive, flat-topped mountain known as Mons Mouton. Scientists believe that this region may harbor water ice, which is considered a vital resource for future crewed missions to the moon, especially for potential long-term stays.

Innovative Technology on Board Athena

Athena is equipped with several rovers, including a suitcase-sized vehicle developed by the Colorado-based company Lunar Outpost, named MAPP (Mobile Autonomous Prospecting Platform). This rover is designed to navigate the landing site and capture 3D images of the terrain. Additionally, a thumb-sized rover called “AstroAnt,” created by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is expected to traverse the roof of the MAPP rover to monitor its health and take periodic temperature readings.

Exploration Plans and Future Missions

Furthermore, mission controllers plan to deploy a drone named Grace, which will make a series of hops around Athena’s landing site. This robot is expected to cover approximately 650 feet in four hops and could explore a nearby crater to search for traces of hydrogen and ice deposits. While Athena is on the lunar surface, it will also test a 4G communications system developed by Nokia. Company officials have indicated that such a network could facilitate communication, telemetry, and data transfer between various spacecraft on the moon.

Looking Ahead: Upcoming Lunar Missions

The excitement surrounding lunar exploration is far from over. This summer, a lander and tiny rover developed by the Japanese company ispace will attempt to land on the moon, targeting the center of a significant area. As these missions unfold, the quest for lunar resources and the potential for human habitation on the moon continues to gain momentum.

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