The unforgiving nature of space was once again highlighted last week when Intuitive Machines’ Athena lunar lander met a premature end, skidding across the Moon’s surface and coming to rest in a cold, dark crater. The Houston-based aerospace company has now released details about Athena’s final moments, revealing a brief resurgence of life after the spacecraft initially powered down.
Athena touched down on the lunar surface on Thursday, March 6th, culminating a week-long journey. Unfortunately, the landing site was not as planned. The lander ended up on its side within a shallow crater in the Mons Mouton region, approximately 820 feet (250 meters) off target. While initially declared non-functional less than a day after touchdown, CEO Steve Altemus has since revealed that the mission continued for a short time before its ultimate demise. Intuitive Machines also shared a captivating 360-degree image of Athena’s descent, stitched together from footage captured by the lander’s four onboard cameras.
A critical failure in Athena’s altimeter during descent prevented accurate measurement of its distance from the lunar surface. This malfunction led to the lander striking a lunar plateau, toppling over, and skidding across the rugged terrain before settling in a small crater. The impact kicked up lunar dust, coating the lander’s solar panels and further hindering its ability to generate power, already compromised by its tilted position.
Carrying a payload of NASA science instruments as part of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, Athena’s team prioritized data transmission in the limited time remaining after touchdown. Despite the setback, valuable data was successfully relayed before the lander’s batteries were fully depleted. “In just 12 hours of surface operations, we gathered extraordinarily valuable data for our customers,” Altemus stated.
This marks Intuitive Machines’ second lunar mission and, unfortunately, the second time a lander has encountered landing difficulties. The company’s first lunar lander, Odysseus, launched in February 2024, also tipped over upon landing, possibly due to a leg snag, coming to rest on its side against a rock. Despite this, Odysseus operated for seven days on the lunar surface, securing Intuitive Machines’ place in history as the first private company to achieve a lunar landing.
While Athena’s mission was tragically shortened, it offered a final, poignant communication. “In the mission’s final moments, Athena powered down. But unexpectedly, the lander woke up one last time, sending a transmission that resonated beyond technology—it was personal,” Altemus shared. “Athena’s last data transmission contained the names of every Intuitive Machines team member who made her mission possible.”
