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Intuitive Machines' Odysseus lander successfully landed on the moon after a tense descent due to a navigation sensor issue. Communication was briefly lost post-landing but later restored, confirming survival.
The achievement marks the first U.S. spacecraft moon landing in over 50 years and the first by a private company. NASA praised the mission as a significant milestone and emphasized the importance of commercial partnerships. Detailed spacecraft assessment awaited telemetry analysis. The landing utilized innovative technologies and student-built camera systems.
The mission was funded under NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program to support future lunar exploration efforts.