In the early hours of this week, Intuitive Machines’ second attempt to reach the lunar surface ended with a bittersweet result. The company’s Nova-C lander Athena successfully descended to the Moon near its south pole – a remarkable achievement – but soon after touchdown it toppled onto its side. For the Houston-based startup, it was déjà vu; their first lander did almost the same thing a year ago. The incident underscores just how unforgiving lunar landings remain, and it is raising tough questions about sensor glitches, engineering practices, and NASA’s hands-off approach to these commercial missions
Intuitive Machines’ Athena lander ultimately came to rest on its side in the dim interior of a crater,
