congrats to #Int_Machines the first US commercial lander. Successful separation and power positive on its way to the moon!
Intuitive Machines’ #NovaC lander is expected to land on the #Moon Thursday, Feb. 23rd
YOu know what my favorite thing, besides night launches is?
Spacecraft deployment Videos
Congrats #Int_Machines #NovaC
Clear Ether! 🚀
#Int_Machines #Odyseeus #NovaC completed its scheduled 408-second main engine lunar orbit insertion burn and is currently in a 92 km circular lunar orbit.
lander is scheduled to touch down on the Moon on Thursday, February 22, at 5:49 p.m. EST
#Int_Machines #Odyseeus Flight controllers analyzed the post-Lunar Orbit Insertion engine burn data and updated the anticipated flight maneuver timing, including an expected 1630 CST landing opportunity. (tomorrow)
all systems nominal
UPDATE: The
#Int_Machines lunar lander will orbit the Moon one additional time before landing on the surface.
Touchdown is now targeted for 6:24pm ET (2324 UTC). coverage will begin at 5pm EST (2200 UTC
TDI starting! Go for autonomous landing
Nominal performance for TDI 90% thrust
9KM altitude
Pitch over! T-1 Minute to Touchdown
1000 meters
Tracking possible signal. 15 minute power cycle when no contact
Faint signal detected! from Hi gain.
Good sign.. might be orientated wrong
"We are not dead yet"
Ham radio operator in Bochum has signal, but it is weak
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.
:Learning more about the vehicle’s specific information (Lat/Lon), overall health, and attitude. #Int_Machines CEO Steve Altemus will participate in a press conference with #NASA later today to discuss this historic moment.
Press conference on #Int_Machines #Odyseeus
descended faster than expected. 2m/s lateral and vertical descent. Theory is a landing leg caught surface, and lander tipped over on its side. But all instruments are external, and getting good data from craft
Press conference on #Int_Machines #Odyseeus part 2
there are four antennas. 1/2 and 3/4. They are getting good signal from one pair, but without heartbeat signal from Earth it cycles from one pair to the other. Need to rewrite program to stop the switching so they can get data
Getting good power, and there isn't much worry with a problem they can solve later
NASA has given them the go ahead to seek other contracts
Until there is an update. My final thoughts on #Int_Machines #Odyseeus landing.
I think they suffered from "Go Fever" and never really planned contingencies, proper checklists, and were generally sloppy
Bad Lunar insertion burn. Failure to remove safety latches on laser range finders. and not able to get enough bandwidth with 2 antenna to reprogram the lander.
now 48 hours after landing and no science, or data.
#Int_Machines #NovaC flight controllers successfully fired the first liquid methane and liquid oxygen engine in space, completing the IM-1 mission engine commissioning. This engine firing included a full thrust mainstage engine burn and throttle down-profile necessary to land on the Moon.
Craft is now over 270000 KM from earth and remains on schedule for a lunar landing opportunity on the afternoon of February 22