Odysseus lunar mission: See the best pictures from the lander's historic moon landing
The Odysseus lunar lander's pioneering journey to the moon has not only left NASA scientists with invaluable data, but has gifted the rest of humanity with some eye-catching celestial photos.
It wasn't long after the spacecraft built and operated by Intuitive Machines in Houston entered orbit Feb. 15 that it began beaming back images to Earth of dazzling astral vistas. Even while Odysseus was on the verge of losing power after toppling over upon landing a week ago, the lander still was able to transmit images to flight controllers of the unexplored south pole region of the moon.
The unforeseen sideways landing hampered communications and hindered the spacecraft's ability to generate solar power, but still it defied the odds as it persisted. Intuitive Machines expected Odysseus would lose power Wednesday night when lunar nighttime set in, CEO Steve Altemus said at a Wednesday press conference.
The team hopes to wake Odysseus back up in about three weeks when the sun returns for solar noon, whereby it reaches its highest point in the sky and provides some power-generating rays.
Here are some photos of Odysseus' *ahem* odyssey on the way to becoming the first commercially-built spacecraft to ever make it to the moon. It's lunar landing also signals America's return to the moon for the first time since the Apollo era came to an end in 1972 as NASA eyes future moon missions with its Artemis program.
Odysseus moon landing:Here's why NASA, Intuitive Machines, says the mission was a success
See photos of Intuitive Machines' Odysseus lunar lander
Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected]