The first private space probe to land on the Moon “died”

The first private space probe to land on the moon, Odyssey, has “died,” North American company Intuitive Machines announced on social media site X.

The craft, which landed on the Moon on February 22, was put to sleep at the end of its main mission, after seven days on the surface of the Earth’s natural satellite, and never “woke up” again.

“Odie is gone forever,” Intuitive Machines announced Saturday.

On February 22, Odyssey became the first private probe to land on the moon and the first American spacecraft to do so since 1972, the year the Apollo program last sent astronauts to the lunar surface.

The probe that transmitted the images and scientific data was on an inclined plane near the south pole after a turbulent descent due to a glitch in the navigation system.

Despite this, some solar panels were still able to continue to function and provide energy.

However, it was unclear whether the engine batteries would withstand the frost of a moonlit night.

Despite the “death” of the probe, Intuitive Machines and the North American Space Agency (NASA), the company’s partner in the mission, using onboard scientific instruments, considered Odysseus’ stay on the Moon a success.

NASA plans to send astronauts back to the lunar surface in 2026, including the first woman and the first black person, specifically to the south polar region, where there will be icy water.