Just a few short years ago, the Space Shuttle program shut down and Americans where hitching a ride to space with the Russians. Now this!
What changed? The 1960s American/Soviet space race was over, to be replaced by new one driven by a handful of billionaires. Larger-than-life personalities instantly recognizable by one name: Elon, Bezos, Branson. Each had their own reasons for pushing space flight.
Since then, American space ports have come far enough along that we’re launching multiple rockets at a time.
Unlike most profligate government programs, this was their own money they were spending. Cost and efficiency mattered. They got creative. The found ways to land and reuse rockets.
Elon used his rockets to deliver payloads for others so that he could further the project he really dreams about — Mars. But his big dreams — like those of his rivals — have made other dreams possible.
The Moon, for instance.
What the now bloated and distracted bureaucracy at NASA couldn’t accomplish in this GenXer’s life time was pulled off by a private company yesterday. (Sort of) We’ve not yet stood on the moon again, but we’ve done the next best thing.
TOUCHDOWN ON THE MOON!
Big CONGRATS from @NSS to @Int_Machines, @NASA, @SpaceX & all your partners on achieving today's successful landing of #Odysseus at Crater Malapert A near the South Pole of the #Moon!
That's one step that's no small feat!#Artemis #CLPS @Chryseplanatia pic.twitter.com/FbDoNxo8y8— National Space Society (@nss) February 23, 2024
The US space agency Nasa had purchased room on Odysseus for six scientific instruments, and its administrator Bill Nelson was quick to add his congratulations to Intuitive Machines for a mission he described as a “triumph”.
“The US has returned to the Moon,” he said. “Today, for the first time in the history of humanity, a commercial company – an American company – launched and led the voyage up there. And today is the day that shows the power and promise of Nasa’s commercial partnerships.” — BBC
Private industry accomplished what the state could not. Again.
The research itself will be taking a look at whether craters so deep that sunlight never touches the bottom might have any ice down there. If so, it would provide a source of water that could make any preparations for future expeditions by humans much easier, with the water in that ice being something that can be repurposed for drinking or breathable air.
The entire 90 minute sequence, with stories about the development, why that location was chosen, some of the equipment hurdles they faced on final approach, with the work-arounds they came up with, are all documented in the video above.
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