How IM-2 payload operators made the most of the mission’s landing issues

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://spacenews.com/how-im-2-payload-operators-made-the-most-of-the-missions-landing-issues/

"Here's why the private Athena lunar lander toppled over on the moon" by @Spacecom - Lunar south pole has long shadows and dim lighting from shallow sun angle, worse than expected for #IM2 lander's cameras. Fixes based on lessons from IM2 failure will be used to improve IM3 landing attempt in 2026. https://www.space.com/astronomy/moon/heres-why-the-private-athena-lunar-lander-toppled-over-on-the-moon #NewSpace #Moon #space #science #business

#SpaceNews:
"
Altimeter problems, lighting challenges caused IM-2 lunar lander to fall on its side
"

https://spacenews.com/altimeter-problems-lighting-challenges-caused-im-2-lunar-lander-to-fall-on-its-side/

13.5.2025

#Athena #IM2 #IntuitiveMachines #Mond #Mondlander #Mondlandung #moon #NASA #NovaC #Raumfahrt #SpaceFlight

The first probe we sent to the moon fell over.

The second probe we sent to the moon fell over.

The third probe we sent to the moon caught fire, fell over, and then sank into a swamp.

But the 5th one stayed up! (jer) #MontyPython #IntuitiveMachines #IM2 #Athena

🛰️🌑 La sonde LRO de la NASA, en orbite lunaire, a repéré #Athena #IM2 sur la #Lune, dans un cratère de 20 mètres de diamètre.
📷 Dans l'encadré un agrandissement de la vue

🛰️🌑 L'atterrisseur #Athena #IM2 est bien couché sur le côté. La mission s'arrête après moins d'une journée sur la #Lune. Quelques données ont été récoltées.
Mon article sur cet échec : https://reves-d-espace.com/atterrisseur-athena-im-2-est-bien-sur-le-cote-la-mission-arretee/

🌑 Bien que resté attaché à l'atterrisseur #Athena #IM2, le petit rover japonais #Yaoki a pris une image de la surface lunaire
📷 Dymon

🛰️🌑 L'atterrisseur #Athena #IM2 est bien couché sur le côté. La mission s'arrête après moins d'une journée sur la #Lune. Quelques données ont été récoltées.
Mon article sur cet échec : https://reves-d-espace.com/atterrisseur-athena-im-2-est-bien-sur-le-cote-la-mission-arretee/

Since the capture time of the image wasn't published, I tried matching the Earth terminator and cloud patterns.
This area above the pacific ocean seems like a good match.
The approximate capture is Mar 7, 2:00 UTC. #IM2

Note that we are seeing the Earth "upside down" here and the North pole is slightly tilted towards us.
Alternative view via @zoom_earth: https://zoom.earth/maps/satellite/#view=23,-141.3,4z/date=2025-03-07,02:00/overlays=labels:off,lines:off

Otra que aterriza en la luna y se voltea de costado

#Athena #IM2

Since the #IM2 lander uses very wide angle fisheye lenses, I was able to make a partial 360° panorama from the image.
This gives a slightly better sense of scale and direction.

https://www.360cities.net/image/im-2-sideways-on-the-moon/

🛰️🌑 Intuitive Machines a reçu des images d' #Athena #IM2 qui confirme qu'elle s'est couchée sur le flanc, à environ 250 m du site ciblé. L'orientation du Soleil va empêcher la batterie de se charger dans cette région polaire.
La mission s'arrête avec quelques données

Comparing the new image with an earlier one, shows significant bending of even the top landing legs, telling me that all legs have touched the surface at one point.

According to the landing stream, the main engine continued to fire for several minutes after touchdown. #IM2

Another one bites the (Moon)dust!

This is Intuitive Machines' #IM2 lander that once again toppled over after trying to land on Mons Mouton near the lunar south pole.

The picture had lots of detail hidden in the shadows which I brought out in processing.

#IntuitiveMachines #CLPS #NASA #Moon #Earth

#Athena came to rest inside a crater, 250m from its intended target. “With the direction of the sun, the orientation of the #solar panels, and extreme cold temperatures in the crater, #IntuitiveMachines does not expect Athena to recharge 🔋”. Issues with Athena’s laser altimeter may have contributed to the bad landing https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/us-company-says-moon-mission-over-after-landing-sideways-again

#IM2 #SpaceNavigation

Le 6 mars a été une journée très spatiale :
🚀 Lancement réussi #Ariane6 #VA263
🛰️🌑 Alunissage raté de #IM2 #Athena ?
🚀 Explosion du #Starship IFT8

3 articles sur mon blog pour vous détailler tout ça : https://reves-d-espace.com/

Athena lying on its side / Athena liegt auf der Seite

".. lander, Athena, landed 250 meters from its intended landing site in the Mons Mouton region .. Images downlinked from Athena on the lunar surface confirmed that Athena was on her side. .. in the crater, Intuitive Machines does not expect Athena to recharge. The mission has concluded .."

https://www.intuitivemachines.com/im-2

7.3.2025

#Athena #IM2 #IntuitiveMachines #Mond #Mondlander #Mondlandung #moon #NASA #NovaC #Raumfahrt #SpaceFlight

Pity, we won't see a rover and hopper test #lunar #LTE this time. #IM2 mission ended, while sitting in a shadow looking at Earth from the easiest place to land in the hard lunar south pole:

https://www.intuitivemachines.com/im-2?questionId=6c76a9f0-e2a3-42e5-bad1-3ca4c31ecd74&appDefId=14c92d28-031e-7910-c9a8-a670011e062d

#IM2 #Athena

Images downlinked from Athena on the lunar surface confirmed that Athena was on her side. After landing, mission controllers were able to accelerate several program and payload milestones, incl. NASA’s PRIME-1 suite, before lander’s batteries depleted.

https://www.intuitivemachines.com/im-2

#space #science #news

Intuitive Machinesが月面に着陸し、ペイロードを操作したようです。詳細はIM-2ミッションページに載っていますぽい。 #AdLunam #IM2 #Athena
https://x.com/Int_Machines/status/1898018154380427501