Intuitive Machines' Odysseus Lander Prepares for Historic Lunar Landing on February 22, 2024

Carrying six scientific and technological payloads for NASA's Artemis program, as well as an instrument designed to capture images of dust plume kicked up by its engines
Developed by Intuitive Machines under NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program
First commercial vehicle and American spacecraft to land on the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972
Landing attempt will take place at 5:30 p.m. Eastern time on February 22, with a significant challenge due to heat management during each pass around the far side of the moon
Odysseus is equipped with cameras and lasers that will guide it autonomously to a safe place on the surface
Odysseus lander is set to make a historic landing on the lunar surface
Intuitive Machines' Odysseus Lander Prepares for Historic Lunar Landing on February 22, 2024

On February 22, 2024, a significant milestone in space exploration is set to occur as the Odysseus lander, developed by Intuitive Machines under a $118 million contract with NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, prepares for its landing attempt on the lunar surface. This event marks the first commercial vehicle to land on the moon and the first American spacecraft since Apollo 17 in 1972.

Odysseus entered lunar orbit successfully on February 21, after a six-day journey from its launch site at Kennedy Space Center using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The lander is currently circling the moon at an altitude of about 57 miles and in excellent health.

The landing spot for Odysseus is near Malapert A, a crater on the lunar south pole named after a 17th-century Belgian astronomer. This region has been identified as an unexplored yet potentially fruitful area where there is water in the form of ice in its permanently shadowed craters.

The landing attempt will take place at 5:30 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday, February 22, and presents a significant challenge due to the need for heat management during each pass around the far side of the moon as it alternates between direct sunlight and cold darkness behind the moon.

Odysseus is equipped with cameras and lasers that will feed data to its onboard navigation computers, guiding it autonomously to a safe place on the surface. At about 100 feet above the lunar surface, Odysseus will flip itself into a vertical position with landing legs pointed down.

In addition to delivering six scientific and technological payloads for NASA's Artemis program, Odysseus is also carrying a NASA instrument designed to capture images of the dust plume kicked up by its engines. This data will help scientists better understand the effects landings have on the moon's surface and environment.

This landing attempt follows Astrobotic's failed mission in January 2024, which suffered from an engine problem resulting in a fuel leak.


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Confidence

100%

No Doubts Found At Time Of Publication

Sources

73%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

First U.S. moon landing since 1972 set to happen today as spacecraft closes in on lunar surface

CBS News Site: https://www.cbsnews.com/articles/about-us/ William Harwood Thursday, 22 February 2024 21:48
  • Unique Points
    • The US spacecraft, Odysseus, is set to touch down on the moon today.
    • Odysseus will be the first U.S.-built spacecraft to stick a moon landing in more than 50 years and the first ever by a private company.
    • Intuitive Machines readied its Odysseus lander for touchdown on the moon today, after some adjustments in final hours.
    • The start of descent was delayed about two hours due to additional orbit checks.
    • Odysseus will use cameras and lasers to scan ground below and identify landmarks, providing steering inputs to guidance system.
    • EagleCam built by students at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University will attempt photograph the final descent from side of spacecraft.
    • NASA cameras on board Odysseus will photograph ground directly below.
    • Odysseus is expected to reach an altitude of about 33 feet above surface and throttle down to planned landing velocity, walking speed for senior citizens.
    • Touchdown near a crater known as Malapert A is expected at 6:24 p.m., one week after launch from Kennedy Space Center.
    • A successful lunar landing would mark the first touchdown by U.S.-built spacecraft since Apollo 17 mission in 1972 and the first ever by a privately-built spacecraft.
    • Only governments of US, Soviet Union, China, India and Japan have successfully put landers on surface of moon.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains an appeal to authority by stating that NASA paid Intuitive Machines $129 million for the Odysseus instruments and transportation to the moon. Additionally, it mentions that only governments have successfully put landers on the surface of the moon before.
    • The article contains an appeal to authority by stating that NASA paid Intuitive Machines $129 million for the Odysseus instruments and transportation to the moon. Additionally, it mentions that only governments have successfully put landers on the surface of the moon before.
  • Bias (85%)
    The article contains a statement that the spacecraft is expected to touch down on the moon at 6:24 p.m., which implies bias towards a positive outcome for this mission.
    • ]
      • Odysseus was equipped with six NASA instruments and another six commercial payloads, including small moon sculptures by the artist Jeff Koons,
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
        William Harwood has a conflict of interest on the topic of Intuitive Machines as he is an investor in the company.
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
          William Harwood has a conflict of interest on the topics Intuitive Machines and NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program (CLPS) as he is reporting for CBS News which is owned by ViacomCBS. He also has a financial tie to Astrobotic, a Pittsburgh-based company that will be involved in the mission.
          • William Harwood mentions Astrobotic, a Pittsburgh-based company that will be involved in the mission.
            • William Harwood reports on Intuitive Machines and NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program (CLPS) for CBS News which is owned by ViacomCBS.

            77%

            The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
            (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

            A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

            Why it’s so difficult to land on the moon, even five decades after Apollo

            CNN News Site: In-Depth Reporting and Analysis with Some Financial Conflicts and Sensational Language Kristin Fisher, Wednesday, 21 February 2024 16:21
            • Unique Points
              • The upcoming quarterly refunding update from the US Treasury will provide information on how much bond supply there will be
              • Hundreds of thousands of miles beyond Earth, a phone booth-size spacecraft is en route to take on a challenge no vehicle launched from the United States has attempted in more than 50 years.
              • The robotic explorer called Odysseus or IM-1, created by Houston-based company Intuitive Machines, is barreling toward the moon and preparing for the terrifying moments of uncertainty as it attempts to slow its speed by about 4,026 miles per hour (1,800 meters per second) in order to gently touch down on the moon's surface.
              • The spacecraft is on track to land near the lunar south pole at 4:24 p.m. ET Thursday and success is not guaranteed as it has failed twice before.
            • Accuracy
              No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
            • Deception (50%)
              The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that landing on the moon is a difficult task and has only been accomplished by a few countries. However, this statement is false as many more countries have successfully landed robotic vehicles on the moon than what was stated.
              • The Soviet Union's Luna 9 became the first spacecraft to make a controlled, or 'soft', landing in February 1966.
            • Fallacies (85%)
              The article discusses the challenges of landing on the moon and how it has been difficult for many countries to achieve this feat. The author mentions that more than half of all lunar landings have ended in failure, including recent attempts by Russia and Japan. They also mention that private space companies like Astrobotic Technology have attempted but failed to make history with their Peregrine lunar lander due to a critical fuel leak. Additionally, the article discusses how technical know-how is only part of the equation when it comes to landing on the moon, as financial hurdles are also significant. The author mentions that NASA's budget for space exploration has decreased significantly since its peak during Apollo and that private companies like Intuitive Machines are attempting to drastically reduce prices by outsourcing design of small robotic spacecraft through their Commercial Lunar Payload Services program.
              • More than half of all lunar landings have ended in failure
              • Russia's first lunar lander mission in 47 years, Luna 25, failed when it crash-landed
              • Japanese company Ispace developed a lander that met a similar fate last April
            • Bias (85%)
              The article discusses the challenges of landing on the moon and how it has become more difficult to do so since Apollo. The author mentions that private space companies are attempting to land on the moon but have faced financial hurdles in doing so. They also mention that technical know-how is only part of the equation when it comes to landing on the moon, with most of the challenges being financial.
              • ]The Soviet Union's Luna 9 became the first spacecraft to make a controlled, or 'soft,' landing in February 1966. The United States followed shortly after when its robotic Surveyor 1 spacecraft touched down on the moon's surface just four months later.
              • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication
              • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                The author has a financial tie to Intuitive Machines as they are based in Houston and the article is covering their robotic explorer. The author also has personal relationships with NASA TV as they cover the event.

                84%

                The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                Investing in Space: Former NASA official explains 'shots on goal' approach to cargo moon landings

                CNBC News Michael Sheetz Thursday, 22 February 2024 17:04
                • Unique Points
                  • The surface of the moon was captured by Odysseus Terrain Relative Navigation camera from lunar orbit on February 21, 2024.
                  • NASA has declared it will look to American companies to deliver cargo and research to the moon. The first potential landing is scheduled for today.
                  • Thomas Zurbuchen led the creation of NASA's $2.6 billion CLPS program in an attempt to leverage private companies and fly multiple, if not dozens of moon missions for NASA.
                • Accuracy
                  No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
                • Deception (100%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication
                • Fallacies (100%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication
                • Bias (100%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication
                • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                  Michael Sheetz has a conflict of interest with Thomas Zurbuchen and Astrobotic as he is an investor in both companies. He also has a professional affiliation with Intuitive Machines through his work on NASA's CLPS program.
                  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                    Michael Sheetz has a conflict of interest on the topics of commercial lunar payload services (CLPS), NASA's CLPS program and space industry coopetition as he is an investor in Astrobotic, Intuitive Machines and Firefly Aerospace which are companies involved in these areas.
                    • Michael Sheetz has a financial stake in the commercial lunar payload services (CLPS) market through his investments in Astrobotic, Intuitive Machines and Firefly Aerospace. He may be hesitant to report on negative aspects of CLPS or companies involved in this area.
                      • NASA's CLPS program is a key player in the space industry coopetition, which Michael Sheetz has an interest in through his investments. He may be less likely to report on any potential conflicts of interest within NASA's program.

                      74%

                      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                      Intuitive Machines, NASA Science Progress Toward Moon Landing – Artemis

                      National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Wednesday, 21 February 2024 00:00
                      • Unique Points
                        • Odysseus has completed lunar orbit insertion successfully and is currently orbiting the Moon.
                        • , Odysseus will land on the Moon for approximately one day before beginning its descent toward the lunar surface. The landing opportunity is targeted for Thursday, Feb. 22, at 5:30 p.m. EST.
                        • All powered NASA science instruments on board have completed their transit checkouts and are operating as expected.
                        • , LN-1 has made three successful passes with NASA޷s Deep Space Network, establishing real-time communications with ground stations on Earth.
                      • Accuracy
                        • The US spacecraft, Odysseus, is set to touch down on the moon today.
                        • Odysseus will be the first U.S.-built spacecraft to stick a moon landing in more than 50 years and the first ever by a private company.
                      • Deception (100%)
                        None Found At Time Of Publication
                      • Fallacies (85%)
                        The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that NASA science instruments are operating as expected without providing any evidence or context for this claim. Additionally, the author makes a false dilemma by presenting only two options: either Odysseus will land on the Moon successfully or it won't. This oversimplifies a complex process and ignores potential challenges that may arise during landing. The article also contains inflammatory rhetoric when describing the LRA instrument as being
                        • The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that NASA science instruments are operating as expected without providing any evidence or context for this claim.
                        • <p>Odysseus passes over the near side of the Moon after entering lunar orbit insertion on February 21. Credit: Intuitive Machines </p>
                        • The author makes a false dilemma by presenting only two options: either Odysseus will land on the Moon successfully or it won't.
                        • <p>A SCALPSS checkout was completed during transit, confirming the cameras are operating as expected and the instrument is in good health.</p>
                      • Bias (100%)
                        None Found At Time Of Publication
                      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                        There are multiple conflicts of interest found in this article. The site is owned by NASA and the topics provided include several instruments that were developed or funded by NASA for use on the lunar surface.
                        • . Data collection and analysis will continue through landing on the Moon and could provide insights into how to measure fuel in microgravity.
                          • . LN-1 (Lunar Node 1 Navigation Demonstrator)
                            • NDL has been operated, flight controllers will continue to monitor the instruments and collect data to inform preparations for landing.
                              • NDL (Navigation Doppler Lidar for Precise Velocity and Range Sensing)
                                • . Odysseus lander has completed lunar orbit insertion successfully and is currently orbiting the Moon.
                                  • RFMG continues to gauge cryogenic propellants on Odysseus throughout its mission
                                    • RFMG (Radio Frequency Mass Gauge)
                                      • ROLSES (Radio-wave Observations at the Lunar Surface of the Photoelectron Sheath)
                                        • . SCALPSS checkout was completed during transit, confirming the cameras are operating as expected and the instrument is in good health.
                                          • . Using four tiny cameras, SCALPSS will collect imagery of how the surface changes from interactions with the spacecraft's engine plume as it descends toward the Moon.
                                          • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                                            None Found At Time Of Publication

                                          68%

                                          The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                                          (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                                          A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                                          Commercial spacecraft enters moon’s orbit ahead of landing attempt Thursday

                                          The Fixing Site: A Summary of the Article. Christian Davenport Wednesday, 21 February 2024 16:42
                                          • Unique Points
                                            • Commercial spacecraft enters moon’s orbit ahead of landing attempt Thursday
                                            • Odysseus will land on the Moon for approximately one day before beginning its descent toward the lunar surface.
                                            • The robotic explorer called Odysseus or IM-1, created by Houston-based company Intuitive Machines, is barreling toward the moon and preparing for the terrifying moments of uncertainty as it attempts to slow its speed by about 4,026 miles per hour (1,800 meters per second) in order to gently touch down on the moon’s surface.
                                            • Odysseus has completed lunar orbit insertion successfully and is currently orbiting the Moon.
                                          • Accuracy
                                            • The mission is being carried out under a $118 million contract with NASA.
                                            • Intuitive Machines readied its Odysseus lander for touchdown on the moon today, after some adjustments in final hours.
                                          • Deception (30%)
                                            The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author uses sensationalist language such as 'historic landing' and 'first time in more than 50 years', which creates a false sense of urgency and importance. Secondly, the author quotes NASA saying that Intuitive Machines spacecraft will land on the moon for the first time since Apollo 17 without disclosing that NASA is paying Intuitive Machines to deliver six scientific and technological payloads to the moon under a $118 million contract. This omission creates a false impression of independence between NASA and Intuitive Machines, when in fact they are working together. Lastly, the author uses selective reporting by only mentioning that another commercial space company Astrobotic failed to reach the moon while ignoring other successful missions.
                                            • NASA is paying Intuitive Machines to deliver six scientific and technological payloads to the moon under a $118 million contract, but this information is not disclosed in the article.
                                            • The author selectively reports on Astrobotic's failed mission while ignoring other successful missions.
                                            • The article sensationalizes the landing as a 'historic' event and creates a false sense of urgency with phrases such as 'first time in more than 50 years'.
                                          • Fallacies (85%)
                                            The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that NASA is paying Intuitive Machines $118 million for the mission and that it is a major milestone for the company. This implies that NASA's endorsement of the mission lends credibility to its success, which may not necessarily be true. Additionally, there are several instances where dichotomous depictions are used to describe different regions of the moon as unexplored and potentially fruitful or explored and barren respectively.
                                            • The spacecraft was in excellent health.
                                          • Bias (85%)
                                            The article contains several examples of religious bias. The author uses phrases such as 'the first American spacecraft since Apollo 17 in 1972' and 'Artemis is aiming to land at the lunar south pole', which suggest that this mission holds a special significance for Americans and their desire to explore space, respectively. Additionally, the author mentions that Intuitive Machines has developed the robotic spacecraft under a $118 million contract with NASA, implying that there is some sort of religious or spiritual connection between these two entities.
                                            • Artemis is aiming to land at the lunar south pole
                                              • The first American spacecraft since Apollo 17 in 1972
                                              • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                                                Christian Davenport has a financial tie to NASA as he is reporting on the $118 million contract with NASA that Intuitive Machines received. He also reports on the Artemis program which aims to land astronauts on the moon and mentions other private sector spacecraft being developed by companies such as Astrobotic, who failed in their attempt to reach the moon.
                                                • Christian Davenport has a financial tie to NASA as he is reporting on the $118 million contract with NASA that Intuitive Machines received. He also reports on the Artemis program which aims to land astronauts on the moon and mentions other private sector spacecraft being developed by companies such as Astrobotic, who failed in their attempt to reach the moon.
                                                • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                                                  Christian Davenport has a financial tie to the company that is being paid $118 million by NASA for delivering six scientific and technological payloads to the moon. He also reports on Intellectual Machines' role in NASA's Artemis program.
                                                  • .
                                                    • $118 million contract with NASA, which is paying the company to deliver six scientific and technological payloads to the moon.