Intuitive Machines’ ambitious moon landing mission was postponed just hours before the scheduled launch due to a technical glitch, as announced by SpaceX, the launch service provider. The Houston-based aerospace firm’s robotic lander, Odysseus, was set to embark on a historic journey from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center but faced a setback due to irregular methane temperatures detected prior to fuel loading.
The issue, impacting the Falcon 9 rocket’s preparation, led SpaceX to delay the launch, initially slated for 12:57am EST today, to at least a day later. SpaceX, established by Elon Musk, aims for a new launch window at 1:05am EST tomorrow.
This mission represents a significant step for the US, marking the potential first lunar touchdown by a privately owned spacecraft since the Apollo era and under NASA’s Artemis program. It aims to precede China in returning humans to the moon.
The delay follows a recent propulsion system leak encountered by Astrobotic Technology’s lander last month, underscoring the challenges private companies face in achieving lunar missions. Despite these hurdles, Intuitive Machines’ mission, carrying six NASA payloads, is a crucial part of the Artemis program’s preparatory efforts for manned lunar exploration.
