IM-1 Odysseus launches to the Moon on a Falcon 9

Intuitive Machines/Nova-C

Intuitive Machines' Odysseus lander launched February 15, 2024, and became the first private spacecraft to soft-land on the Moon a week later. Although it touched down at a 12-degree slope and tilted on a helium tank, all six NASA instruments remained functional and returned data until lunar night, a first US landing since Apollo 17.

• Launched 15 February; touched down 22 February at 23:23 UTC near Malapert-A crater; first private US lunar landing since Apollo 17 in 1972.
• Altitude sensors failed during descent; lander came down faster than planned on a 12-degree slope and rested tilted on an external helium tank.
• All NASA instruments operated until loss of power ~7 days later at lunar night; reactivation attempts after the two-week lunar night failed.