You have telescopic vision if you can spot the tipsy Moon lander resting on its side within 30 seconds

 

THE Nova-C Odysseus Moon lander has beamed its first photos of the lunar surface back to Earth – but can you spot it amongst the craters?

Odysseus – the first privately owned spacecraft to touchdown on the Moon – landed five days ago, but ended up tripping over its own feet and falling on its side.

LROCOdysseus’ sideways posture has significantly limited how much its solar panels can catch sunlight and recharge its batteries – but has also made it harder to spot[/caption]

Intuitive Machines boss Steve Altemus, whose company built and flew the lander, said: “The vehicle is stable, near or at our intended landing site. We have communications with the lander.”

Japan’s Moon lander suffered a similarly clumsy landing when it landed on its nose just one month ago.

Executives at Intuitive Machines reckon that the forward speed of the spacecraft during landing, about twice as fast as expected, may have been a factor in Odysseus’ stumble.

Odysseus’ sideways posture has significantly limited how much its solar panels can catch sunlight and recharge its batteries – but has also made it harder to spot.

While two antennae pointed to the ground, limiting communications with Earth.

The slow death a imposed on the lander by the mispositioned solar panels is reminiscent of the US’ Peregrine spacecraft’s demise.

Now control engineers expect to lose contact with Odysseus, cutting the mission short just days after touchdown.

In an update posted online on Monday, the Houston-based company said: “Flight controllers intend to collect data until the lander’s solar panels are no longer exposed to light.

“Based on Earth and Moon positioning, we believe flight controllers will continue to communicate with Odysseus until Tuesday morning.”

Once on the surface, Odysseus was initially intended to operate for two weeks – or one lunar night.

The position of Odysseus makes the lander hard to spot on the lunar surface, alongside a vast number of craters, shadows and rubble.

LROCDid you spot the Nova-C Odysseus lander?[/caption]