NASA-partnered Athena lander lands near Moon's south pole, but its fate remains unclear

Private US Lunar Lander Touches Down at Awkward Angle Again. (Image: NASA)

Intuitive Machines' second lunar lander, Athena, has landed awkwardly. The mission, aimed at reaching the Moon’s south pole, faced a tense delay before confirming touchdown.

The Houston-based company had earlier made history in February 2024. It became the first private firm to land on the Moon. However, its Odysseus lander had toppled upon touchdown. This time, Athena also appears to have landed at a strange angle.

Athena touched down at 12:32 pm ET (1732 GMT) on Thursday. After 20 minutes of silence, spokesperson Josh Marshall confirmed, “Athena is on the surface of the Moon.” However, teams were still analysing data to determine its exact status.

CEO Steve Altemus later admitted, “We don’t believe we’re in the correct attitude.” The term refers to the lander's orientation, which could affect power and communication. The company's share price dropped by 20 percent after the announcement.

Possible issues with Athena’s laser altimeters may have played a role. These instruments measure altitude and speed. Similar problems affected Odysseus in 2024.

Athena is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) programme. The $2.6 billion initiative funds private firms for Moon landings. The goal is to support NASA’s Artemis missions and future Mars exploration.

LIVE: NASA and @Int_Machines leadership talk about the March 6 lunar landing. Athena touched down on the Moon at approximately 12:30pm ET (1730 UTC). https://t.co/1kmUECWgqj

NASA (@NASA) March 6, 2025

The lander carries several experiments, including a 4G cellular network test. It also has an ice-drilling device and three robotic rovers. A special hopping drone, Grace, aims to explore a shadowed lunar crater. However, Athena’s final position will determine the success of these objectives.

Landing on the Moon is extremely difficult. Without an atmosphere, spacecraft cannot use parachutes. They must rely on precise navigation and controlled thrusts.

Until Intuitive Machines’ first mission, only national space agencies had achieved this feat. NASA’s last crewed landing was Apollo 17 in 1972.

Athena launched last Wednesday aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The same mission also carried NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer, a spacecraft designed to map the Moon’s water.

Despite the awkward landing, Intuitive Machines remains optimistic. Chief technology officer Tim Crain said, “Any time humanity puts a lander on the Moon, it’s a good day.”