Daily Archives: February 16, 2024

I used to love rocket launches when I was younger. During every launch, I imagined what it would feel like to be an astronaut sitting in the spacecraft, listening to that final countdown and then feeling multiple gees push me up through the atmosphere and away from our blue marble.

But as I learned more about the severe limitations of human spaceflight, I turned my attention to the oldest and most accessible form of space exploration: the science of astronomy.

Since 2019, Ive watched my unencumbered enthusiasm for rocket launches soften to tepid interest, and finally sour to outright dread. The corporate space race, led by SpaceX, is entirely responsible for this transformation in my mindset.

I am worried by the complete shift to the move-fast-and-break-things attitude that comes from the tech sector instead of government scientific agencies. I am put off by the colonialist language and billionaire-worship of private corporations. I am increasingly furious at the nonexistent public education and lack of transparency offered by these companies.

The final nail in the coffin for my love of rocket launches came with SpaceXs Starlink satellite megaconstellations.

Read more: Soon, 1 out of every 15 points of light in the sky will be a satellite

The corporate space race is well underway, with private companies flooding Low Earth Orbit with thousands of mass-produced satellites. In previous decades, the prohibitively high cost of launch kept the rate of increase and total number of satellites from growing too rapidly. But launches have been getting steadily cheaper for years.

SpaceX has launched thousands of their own Starlink communication satellites, as well as hundreds of satellites for their direct competitors. Half of all launches worldwide in 2023 were SpaceX rockets.

As an astronomer, Im painfully aware of what these thousands of new satellites have done to the night sky worldwide. They reflect sunlight long after the sky has grown dark, looking like moving stars.

Starlink satellites are the most numerous and occupy some of the lowest orbits, so they make up the majority of the satellites seen in the sky.

Last year, SpaceX launched one of the brightest objects in the sky on behalf of another company: BlueWalker 3, a satellite with the same sky-footprint as a small house. They plan to operate a fleet of dozens, each as bright as the brightest stars in the sky.

These satellites are now increasingly obstructing telescopic space exploration, both on the ground and in space. Astronomers are the canaries in the coal mine for this rapidly expanding experiment in orbit: we see these satellites increasingly affecting our research every day.

I have watched over the past five years as satellite streaks in my own research images from the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope have changed from an unusual occurrence to lost data in nearly every image.

Astronomy is the only way to learn about the universe, the overwhelming majority of which can never be explored by humans. The farthest human-made object from Earth is the Voyager 1 probe, now eight times farther from the sun than Neptune after 46 years continuously travelling significantly faster than a speeding bullet.

But even if Voyager 1 was pointed directly toward our nearest neighbouring star, Proxima Centauri (its not), it would take over 100,000 years to get there. We are light-years away from having technology that can robotically explore even our neighbouring solar systems on a human timescale, let alone bring humans out to the stars.

The vast majority of astronomy research is carried out by telescopes on Earth: large optical telescopes on remote mountaintops, large radio telescopes in radio-quiet zones that are meticulously maintained, as well as smaller telescopes scattered around the world.

There are a handful of telescopes in Low Earth Orbit that also have to contend with light pollution from Starlink and other megaconstellations. There are also a handful of telescopes outside Earth orbit which can only operate for a few years, unlike ground-based facilities that can be maintained and enhanced with new technologies for decades.

Space exploration using Earth-based telescopes is growing increasingly less effective as more bright and radio-loud satellites are placed between Earth and the stars. But there are much worse problems ahead if corporations continue launching satellites: atmospheric pollution on launch and reentry, ground casualty risks from reentries, and the very real possibility of a runaway collisional cascade in orbit, referred to as the Kessler Syndrome.

Read more: A rapidly growing rocket industry could undo decades of work to save the ozone layer unless we act now

Satellites are an incredibly useful part of our lives, but there are limits to how many can safely orbit Earth. Current regulations on launches and orbital operations by governments are very weak, and are not set up for the current regime of thousands of new satellites per year.

Regulation on the number of satellites in orbit would force corporations toward technology improvements and service models that use fewer satellites, keeping orbit usable for future generations.

Read more: It's not too late to save the night sky, but governments need to get serious about protecting it

Ask your government representatives to support satellite regulation, and expansion of rural broadband. Get out and enjoy your dark skies, before they change.

With proper regulation, our oldest form of space exploration can continue. I desperately hope we never reach a point where the natural patterns in the sky are drowned out by anthropogenic ones, but without regulation, corporations will get us there soon.

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An astronomer's lament: Satellite megaconstellations are ruining space exploration - The Conversation

Asteroid Mining: A Glimpse into the Future

With an estimated value of $100,000 quadrillion, the metal-rich asteroid Psyche has become the target of a NASA mission to explore the formation of planetary interiors. This mission has sparked interest from companies such as AstroForge and TransAstra, who see the potential opportunity for mining asteroids for rare elements like platinum and palladium, essential for modern technologies including cars and electronics.

Advancements in technology have made asteroid mining a plausible reality, with the private sector leading the way. One such example is AstroForge, a U.S.-based startup preparing to launch a spacecraft in early 2024 to mine asteroids, a pioneering initiative in the private sector. However, the economic viability of transporting these materials back to Earth still remains a question. The moon, being closer and more accessible, is considered a better source for similar materials.

While space mining opens a universe of possibilities, it also enters a legal gray area. The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 prevents sovereigns from claiming ownership of the moon, but it doesnt prohibit companies or individuals from extracting resources. The SPACE Act grants U.S. citizens the right to claim resources from space, leading to international disputes. As such, the UN is set to discuss space resource extraction, and the Artemis Accords propose guidelines for bringing humans back to the moon and granting rights over space resources.

NASAs OSIRIS-REx mission recently collected 121.6 grams of sample from asteroid Bennu, more than double its initial goal. Some of this sample will be shared with various U.S. and international research organizations, while some will be preserved for examination with more advanced instruments as they are developed. NASA has conducted several other sample return missions to collect and analyze samples from the Moon, comets, asteroids, and the solar wind, furthering our understanding of the Solar System.

As technology advances, the potential for space exploration and resource extraction expands. Startups like Space Initiatives Inc. are developing technologies such as femtosatellites that could revolutionize space development, making space travel more accessible and enabling missions that will define humanity for millennia to come. As we continue to push the boundaries of what is possible, asteroid mining remains a potential future endeavor that could transform our understanding of the universe and our place within it.

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Asteroid Mining: A Glimpse into the Future - Medriva

Houston-based Intuitive Machines just made one giant leap for mankind.

On February 15, the space exploration, infrastructure, and services company successfully launched its IM-1 mission Nova-C class lunar lander on SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket. The launch followed a one-day delay.

The lunar touchdown of the Odysseus spacecraft is set for February 22, according to The Washington Post.

If all goes well it will become the first American spacecraft to gently set down on the moons surface since the Apollo 17 moon landing in 1972, The New York Times notes.

It also would be the first commercial vehicle to land on the moon.

The IM-1 mission lander launched from NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 12:05 a.m. CST. The lunar lander reached its orbit about 48 minutes later, and made its first communication with Intuitive Machines mission operations center in Houston at 12:59 a.m. CST.

The Intuitive Machines IM-1 mission is the companys first attempted lunar landing as part of NASAs Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative, a key part of NASAs Artemis moon exploration efforts. The science and technology payloads sent to the moons surface as part of the initiative are aimed at gearing up for human missions and a sustainable human presence on the moons surface.

NASA is the primary customer for this mission, paying Intuitive Machines $118 million to take its payloads to the moons surface, including a stereo camera to observe the plume of dust kicked up during landing and a radio receiver to measure the effects of charged particles on radio signals, according to The Times. Also aboard is cargo such as a camera built by students at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, and the Moon Phases project by American artist Jeff Koons.

We are keenly aware of the immense challenges that lie ahead, Steve Altemus, co-founder, president and CEO of Intuitive Machines, says in a news release. However, it is precisely in facing these challenges head-on that we recognize the magnitude of the opportunity before us: to softly return the United States to the surface of the Moon for the first time in 52 years.

The liftoff of the IM-1 mission was targeted for a multiday launch window that opened at 11:57 p.m. CST on February 13. Intuitive Machines and SpaceX had concluded pre-launch testing on February 12.

I feel fairly confident that were going to be successful softly touching down on the moon, Altemus told The New York Times. Weve done the tests. We tested and tested and tested. As much testing as we could do.

Last year, Intuitive Machines went public through a SPAC (special purpose acquisition company) merger with Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. The Houston companys stock trades on the NASDAQ stock market. Following the launch of the lunar lander, Intuitive Machines saw a spike in its stock price on February 15.

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Intuitive Machines makes history with lunar lander launch - InnovationMap

As we set our sights on becoming an interplanetary species, one particular celestial phenomenon has piqued the interest of astronomers and space agencies alike minimoons. Richard Binzel, an astronomer from MIT, has shed light on the potential of these small asteroids in aiding interplanetary exploration, particularly missions to Mars.

Minimoons are small, temporary satellites that orbit Earth. They are some of the easiest celestial bodies to reach from our planet, requiring less fuel than journeys to many other cosmic bodies. This makes them attractive targets for exploration and potential stepping stones in our journey towards exploring the cosmos.

One of the most significant challenges of space travel is the tyranny of the rocket equation. This refers to the dilemma of carrying enough fuel for a round-trip to space, which increases the spacecrafts mass and subsequently the amount of fuel needed to launch it. Binzel highlights the need for in-space resource development to break this cycle. This is where minimoons come into play. Space agencies can test their technologies effectiveness, including life support systems, engines, and propulsion systems, by conducting missions to minimoons and other near-Earth asteroids in their vicinity.

The potential of minimoons extends beyond just being waypoints. Recent discoveries indicate that some asteroids, such as Iris and Massalia, have water molecules on their surface. This could revolutionize our approach to long-distance space travel. If we can mine these water-rich asteroids for fuel, it could provide a sustainable way to refuel in space, effectively breaking the tyranny of the rocket equation.

Despite the potential of minimoons, challenges remain. One significant hurdle is identifying more of these celestial bodies. They are notoriously hard to detect due to their small size and temporary nature. However, with the advent of next-generation telescopes, we can expect to enhance our ability to discover and harness the potential of these minimoons.

Binzel predicts a 30-year horizon for humans to reach the vicinity of Mars and sees minimoons as a stepping stone in leaving the Earth-moon cradle for interplanetary exploration. As we continue to explore these fascinating celestial bodies, we may find that minimoons hold the keys to our future as an interplanetary species.

Whether its the quasi-satellite of Venus named 2002VE68 or Earths minimoons with stable orbits lasting up to 4,000 years, these minor bodies in the solar system hold a universe of possibilities. Even as we strive to correct the mistaken naming of the asteroid 2002VE68 as Zoozve, we look forward to the discoveries and advancements these celestial bodies will bring.

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The Potential of Minimoons in Interplanetary Exploration and Space Travel - Medriva

A double Nobel Prize and instruments on board 50 European, American, Russian and Chinese missions. In space, Switzerland is everywhere. It will charter the first garbage truck in earth orbit, it has its own telescope for exoplanets (Cheops) andits technology is also present on the fabulous James Webb Space Telescope.

This content was published on July 19, 2022 - 16:50

Marc-Andr Miserez

After some years in the regional print and broadcast media in French Switzerland, in 2000 I joined Radio Swiss International, which then became swissinfo.ch. Since then I have been writing (and producing short videos) on a variety of subjects, from politics to business, and including culture and science.

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Im Weltraum gehrt die kleine Schweiz zu den Grossen

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Dans lespace, la petite Suisse joue dans la cour des grands Original

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Nello spazio, la piccola Svizzera concorre con i grandi

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En el espacio, la pequea Suiza juega en la liga de los grandes

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Its images are still amazing the world. Because it looks into the infrared, is much larger than the Hubble, and is not positioned in low orbit, the James Webb telescope is the most powerful astronomical instrument ever built by mankind. And among its builders, there are also Swiss.

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This content was published on Jun 17, 2022 Swiss astrophysicist Adrian Glauser guides us through the technology in the most powerful space telescope ever deployed the James Webb.

The announcement by the European Space Agency in December 2020 was a momentous one for the Swiss space community. The agency had agreed to allocate almost CHF100 million to ClearSpace-1, an initiative/start-up by Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) to clear space debris.

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This content was published on Dec 5, 2020 It is the first time the European Space Agency (ESA) has allocated such a large sum (86 million) to a start-up.

Swiss scientists and engineers have built their reputation in space exploration and research over many years.

A discovery in 1995 made little noise outside scientific circles. But as the years passed, the public began to realise that what was once the realm of science fiction had become a proven reality: the galaxy is teaming not only with stars, but also with planets. The first to have identified one of these planets orbiting a star other than our sun were none other than Switzerlands own Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz.

And 24 years later, the discovery earned Mayor and Queloz the Nobel Prize for physics.

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This content was published on Jan 18, 2020 Joint winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics, Didier Queloz talks about waiting for the call from Sweden and how the award has changed his life.

Excitement aside, the Nobel Prize is certainly justified. The discovery was one of the most important in astronomy in the 20th century. It opened new fields of research for understanding our place in the universe and it multiplied by millions the chances of finding extra-terrestrial life.

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This content was published on Oct 5, 2015 On October 6, 1995, Michel Mayor and Didier Quloz announced the discovery of the first planet orbiting a star other than our sun.

But the search for other lifeforms is not an easy task when we are looking for it on distant worlds that are hundreds of thousands of billons of kilometres away. This is where human ingeniousness intervenes. And here also, is where the Swiss are present.

Ingenuity was required from the very outset of this quest. But how is it, in fact, that we are sure of the existence of these planets when, apart from on one or two grainy photographs of vague spots of light, no one has ever seen them?

But it might not be necessary to explore planets that far away. Bern-based scientists hope to find life in space using a state-of-the art instrument known as ORIGIN that may be used on future space missions to Jupiter and Saturn.

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This content was published on Apr 10, 2021 Scientists hope to find life in space using a state-of-the-art instrument that may be used on future space missions to Jupiter and Saturn.

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This content was published on Nov 9, 2012 Swiss scientists Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz were the first to discover a planet outside our solar system back in 1995. Since then, the catalogue of planets orbiting stars other than the sun (exoplanets) has grown week by week. Although the first photos are now emerging, worlds trillions of kilometres away are still being discovered

Meanwhile, research into exoplanets continues. Today scientists have the instruments and technologyto better understand what such distant planets are made of. This is the mission of the CHEOPS spatial telescope, the first European satellite Made in Switzerland that was launched in December 2019.

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This content was published on Dec 18, 2019 A Russian Soyuz rocket carrying the CHEOPS (Characterising ExOPlanets Satellite) telescope blasted off from Kourou, French Guiana.

But the Swiss reputation in space exploration was not established with CHEOPS, neither with Mayor and Queloz, nor even with the Swiss astronaut Claude Nicollier first non-American mission specialist at NASA.

In 1969, Armstrong and Aldrin landed on the moon wearing Swiss watches on their wrists. And the first thing they did upon arrival, even before unfurling the star-spangled banner, was to install a solar sail from the University of Bern, itself being the only non-American scientific experiment on board Apollo 11.

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This content was published on Jul 19, 2019 The first manned mission to the moon was also one giant leap for the University of Bern, which helped to clear up a misconception about the Big Bang.

Since the beginning of space exploration, there has hardly been an American or European mission which did not include Swiss technology. Thats because this country knows how to make instruments which are both very precise and very reliable, indispensable attributes for responding to the constraints of a space voyage.

Whether it is propelling a rover on Mars, sniffing the gas which escapes from a comet or taking high definition images of a planet in the solar system, Swiss engineers have the solution.

The most recent example: STIX. This X-ray telescope will study solar eruptions from a European probe which will approach closer to the Sun than anything that has been attempted before.

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This content was published on Feb 10, 2020 The European-American Solar Orbiter probe took off from Florida on Sunday night with a Swiss X-ray telescope on board to study the Sun close up.

Switzerland, country of watchmaking and precision mechanics also has highly advanced education and research support systems, which explains in part how a small country in the mountains has become a big country in space.

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This content was published on Feb 19, 2019 With its ten universities and two institutes of technology, Switzerland is at the forefront of research in many areas.

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In space exploration, Switzerland punches above its weight - SWI swissinfo.ch - SWI swissinfo.ch in English

Starlab. Credit: NASA

Ibadan, 13 February 2024. Starlab Space LLC, the transatlantic joint venture between Voyager Space and Airbus, has announced its leadership team. Retired NASA astronaut and Voyager executive Tim Kopra will become Starlabs Chief Executive Officer (CEO), while Mohit Sharma, currently Head of Mergers and Acquisitions Finance at Airbus Defence and Space, joins Starlab as Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Tim Kopra will leverage his extensive expertise in space exploration and experience overseeing the Starlab program at Nanoracks (part of Voyagers Exploration Segment) to lead the joint venture as it continues down the development path. Kopra will also serve on the Starlab Board of Directors. Likewise, Sharma will oversee all financial and fundraising aspects of Starlab, expanding and developing the joint ventures financial strategy to foster the companys continued growth.

Speaking on his appointment, Tim Kopra said, The collaboration between Voyager Space and Airbus reflects an unparalleled level of expertise, embodied by this top-notch leadership team. The Company is not only positioned to meet and exceed current space exploration standards but also to revolutionize the commercial space sector as a whole. I have the honor to lead Starlab in our mission to transform space exploration.

Similarly, Mohit Sharma said, As we navigate the financial landscape of this innovative international venture, our focus will be on ensuring fiscal strength and strategic allocation of resources. I have the honor to contribute to the success of this ambitious endeavor, creating value for our stakeholders and establishing a solid foundation for the bright future of space exploration.

In addition to these appointments, Voyager Spaces CTO Marshall Smith, Former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, Airbus U.S. Space and Defenses SVP and Head of Space Systems Debra Facktor and CFO Mohamed Denden also join Starlab as members of the Board.

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Starlab Announces Leadership Team With new CEO and CFO - SpaceWatch.Global

In a thrilling development for space exploration, private American companies are competing in a race to land on the moon. This competition is part of NASAs public-private partnership program, Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS), aiming to grow the space economy and pave the way for further exploration of the moon, Mars, and deeper space. The program, worth a maximum of $2.6 billion, has ignited a new era of space exploration and economic growth.

Despite the recent fiery failure of Astrobotic Technologys Peregrine lander, the mission was a success for United Launch Alliance, which developed the rocket used for the launch. The setback has only fueled anticipation for the upcoming launches from other US companies. The challenges of soft lunar landings have not deterred NASA from selecting 14 American companies, including SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Lockheed Martin Space, to help reach the moon.

Intuitive Machines is set to be the latest private space company attempting a lunar landing. Launching from Cape Canaveral aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, a successful landing would mark the first U.S. robotic lunar landing since 1968, and potentially the start of for-profit moon exploration. This mission is part of NASAs Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, with two other lunar lander missions planned this year.

However, the path to the moon is not without its hiccups. The launch of a private US moon lander was recently postponed due to a technical glitch in Florida. Similarly, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has delayed the launch date of its new H3 flagship rocket due to poor weather forecasts.

Intuitive Machines is preparing to launch a robotic moon lander named Odysseus on a NASA mission, marking the first US lunar touchdown in over 50 years and the first by a privately owned vehicle. The mission aims to achieve the first controlled descent to the lunar surface by a US spacecraft since the final Apollo crewed moon mission in 1972, and the first by a private company. This mission is part of NASAs Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the moon before China lands its own crewed spacecraft there.

The lunar lander is expected to reach its destination near the moons south pole and will focus on space weather interactions, radio astronomy, precision landing technologies, and navigation. With plans for future moon missions in 2024 and beyond, Intuitive Machines is set to play a crucial role in the next chapter of space exploration.

For the second time this year, a US company is embarking on a mission to put a spacecraft on the moon and end Americas 50-year lull. The planned launch of Houston-based Intuitive Machines Inc.s moon lander on a SpaceX rocket was delayed by approximately 24 hours. Now targeting a launch at 1:05 a.m. Eastern time on Feb. 15, the spacecraft, called Nova-C, will attempt to touch down softly on the moons surface about a week later.

These missions underscore the determination and innovative spirit of private American companies in contributing to the next era of space exploration. Despite the challenges and setbacks, the race to the moon continues, signaling an exciting future for both space travel and the burgeoning space economy.

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The New Space Race: Private American Companies Compete to Land on the Moon - Medriva

The Psyche Spacecraft Surpasses its 100-Day Milestone, Marking a New Era in Space Technology and Communication

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Feb. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As the Psyche spacecraft, part of NASA's ambitious deep space exploration, completes its crucial 100-day checkout phase, Spectrum Advanced Manufacturing Technologies, a leader in high-reliability circuit card assembly and contract manufacturing, announces its significant role in this milestone. Launched on October 13, 2023, aboard the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, the Psyche mission has successfully deployed its solar arrays and entered the operational phase, thanks in part to Spectrum's high-precision circuit boards.

"Spectrum's circuit boards are at the heart of the Psyche spacecraft's communication systems," says Jeff Gilbert, Chief Operating Officer of Spectrum Advanced Manufacturing Technologies. "Our involvement in this project demonstrates our commitment to advancing space technology. Our products' performance during the critical initial 100 days is a testament to our team's expertise and the reliability of our technology in extreme conditions."

According to NASA, the Psyche mission, managed by Arizona State University and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), represents a significant leap in deep space exploration. The spacecraft's journey to the asteroid Psyche will be propelled by an innovative solar electric propulsion system, enhanced by Spectrum's cutting-edge technology. This advancement is critical for the Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) experiment, designed to drastically improve long-distance space communication. By employing a near-infrared laser system, the DSOC aims to facilitate swifter transmission rates and substantially greater bandwidth, setting a new standard for sending and receiving data across the vast expanse of space.

Now, with the checkout phase behind, the Psyche spacecraft sets its sights on a Mars gravity assist in 2.5 years, a crucial step in its 5.5-year journey to the asteroid belt. Spectrum's contributions are integral to the success of this mission, highlighting the company's leading role in developing technologies critical for the future of space exploration.

Spectrum has a rich history in aerospace, including projects like the James Webb Space Telescope and the Roman Space Telescope. To learn more about Spectrum and its cutting-edge circuit board technology, visit spectrumamt.com.

About Spectrum Advanced Manufacturing Technologies

Spectrum Advanced Manufacturing Technologies, Inc. (Spectrum AMT) stands as a prominent leader in high-reliability circuit card assembly and contract manufacturing, with over 25 years in the industry. Serving sectors such as Aerospace, Spaceflight, DoD, Medical Devices, and Enterprise and industrial, Spectrum consistently meets high standards and client expectations. Key collaborations include systems for the MK-48 Torpedo, MH-60 SeaHawk Helicopters, and NASA's Dragonfly project. Adhering to principles of precision and "never fail" reliability, Spectrum AMT exemplifies commitment and excellence. Learn more at spectrumamt.com.

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Melissa Whitworth | Lightspeed PR/M | [emailprotected]

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Spectrum Advanced Manufacturing Technologies Plays Vital Role in NASA's Deep Space Optical Communications - PR Newswire

NASAs Artemis program, the quest to eventually return astronauts to the surface of the moon, is off to a fitful start. In January, the first attempt to land a robotic spacecraft on the lunar surface in more than 50 years was thwarted by a fuel leak that prevented the craft from reaching the moon. The next day, NASA announced that two of its landmark flights one to send a crew of four around the moon, the other to land astronauts on it will be delayed significantly while the space agency works through technical issues.

But now, Intuitive Machines, a company based in Houston, is planning to launch its spacecraft to the moon early on Wednesday, setting up a possible landing later this month. If successful, it will be the first landing for the United States since the last of the Apollo missions in 1972 and the first commercial spacecraft ever to touch down on the lunar surface. The companys phone-booth-size lander, Odysseus, is aiming for near the moons south pole, a region that is of particular interest to NASA because of the existence of water in the form of ice in its permanently shadowed craters.

Although the spacecraft is owned and operated by Intuitive Machines, NASA has several science experiments on board and is paying the company $118 million to deliver them to the surface. The flight is part of a $2.6 billion space agency program designed to send a fleet of robotic spacecraft, operated not by NASA but private industry, to the moon over the next several years to bolster the space agencys attempt to land astronauts there.

The effort demonstrates the growing role the commercial space industry has assumed in space exploration. NASA now relies on contractors not just to fly cargo and astronauts to the International Space Station, but also to develop the spacecraft that will land astronauts on the moon and the spacesuits they will wear while there. It is also looking to the corporate sector to build the habitats that could eventually replace the space station in Earth orbit.

A successful lunar landing by a commercial vehicle would mark a significant milestone in the exploration of space by private enterprise, which NASA hopes will eventually help open up new economic and scientific activity on and around the moon. By advancing our capabilities to operate on the lunar surface, the mission sets the stage for more ambitious endeavors, including the establishment of lunar bases and the exploration of potential resources, Intuitive Machines said in a statement.

All of that remains years away, and landing on the moon is extremely difficult. In the first of the uncrewed flights to the lunar surface, a spacecraft developed by Astrobotic, a company based in Pittsburgh, suffered a problem with its propulsion system last month and sprang a leak, preventing it from reaching the lunar surface. Shortly afterward, a spacecraft operated by the Japanese space agency landed softly, making Japan the fifth country to land on the moons surface. But the spacecraft ended up on its side.

NASAs moon program has had some recent setbacks, as well. The space agency had been hoping that a quartet of astronauts would fly around the moon in its Orion spacecraft later this year, a mission, known as Artemis II, that would be somewhat similar to the Apollo 8 flight in 1968. But last month, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said the flight will be delayed to September 2025 because the space agency needs to further study Orions heat shield, which showed more charring than anticipated.

Artemis III, the flight that will transport astronauts to the surface, was also pushed back from 2025 to no earlier than September 2026. This time, the issue is delays in SpaceXs development of its Starship spacecraft, which is supposed to ferry the crew to and from the lunar surface. Nelson said there are also delays with developing the spacesuits the astronauts will wear on the moon. That effort is being led by Axiom Space, another private space company.

I want to emphasize that safety is our number one priority, Jim Free, NASAs associate administrator, said during a briefing last month. As we prepare to send our friends and colleagues on this mission, were committed to launching as safely as possible. And we will launch when were ready.

Intuitive Machines says that after an extensive test campaign it is ready to launch as early as 12:57 a.m. Eastern time Wednesday, setting up a landing about nine days later.

The vehicle is ready, Stephen Altemus, CEO of Intuitive Machines, said in an interview in October. Its performing wonderfully. We know the odds of what were up against. Weve done extensive testing beyond development testing, to make sure that the vehicle is performing as designed. And were confident coming out of our reviews that weve hammered all those issues flat and that we know how the vehicle behaves.

Odysseus will be carried to space on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Fla., and will then speed toward the moon while undergoing complicated steps along the way. Once the spacecraft separates from the rocket, it will use special cameras to take images of stars that will allow it to autonomously orient itself in the correct position so that its solar arrays point toward the sun. Once powered up, it will turn on its communication radios to make contact with controllers on the ground.

On the way to the moon, the spacecraft will use its propulsion system to make course corrections to keep it on the right path, like a car driver making minor adjustments with the steering wheel along a straight stretch of road, the company said. It will aim for a spot near the moon that will allow it to enter lunar orbit, similar to how basketball players aim for the square on the backboard of the hoop. If a basketball player hits the backboard square with a shot, the ball is likelier to go in the hoop, it said.

As it approaches the moon, the spacecraft will fire its engine again, this time to put it into an orbit about 62 miles above the lunar surface. The plan calls for it to orbit the moon approximately 12 times while waiting for the lighting conditions to be right on the lunar surface. Each pass also will present a challenge for the spacecraft, as it alternates between the heat of the sun and the cold of darkness that will require heat drawn from batteries to keep systems warm. The spacecraft will lose communications with the ground for about 45 minutes on each orbit when the moon blocks Odysseuss radio signal.

As the vehicle begins its descent toward the surface, it will fire its engine to drop from 62 miles to just over six miles. Then its cameras and lasers will feed data to the onboard navigation computers that will autonomously guide it to a safe place on the surface. At about 100 feet, it will flip itself to a vertical position with its landing legs pointed down. During the descent, the engine thrust will continuously decrease as the lander burns fuel and, as a result, gets lighter and lighter.

Because lunar dust will kick up as the vehicle approaches the surface, it wont use cameras or sensors for the final touchdown, relying instead on what the company calls inertial measurement, which the company said senses acceleration and rotation like a humans inner ear. Terminal descent is like walking toward a door and closing your eyes the last three feet, the company said. You know youre close enough, but your inner ear must lead you through the door.

The landing speed will be about three feet per second, or about 2 mph.

Odysseus is carrying several scientific payloads from NASA, including an instrument that will capture images of the dust plume kicked up by the spacecrafts engines. Since it anticipates eventually landing multiple spacecraft close to one another, NASA wants to better understand what effects landings have on the moons surface and environment.

It is also carrying a camera system designed by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University students and faculty that will be ejected from the spacecraft at about 100 feet above the moons surface to take images of the vehicle during the landing sequence.

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Intuitive Machines Odyssey lunar lander to be launched early Wednesday - The Washington Post