The US has successfully landed the privately-built Odysseus spacecraft on the Moon, marking the first visit by a commercial vehicle.
2
Intuitive machines' success
Built by Texas-based Intuitive Machines, Odysseus touched down near the lunar south pole, paving the way for future lunar exploration.
3
NASA's commercial initiative
The 14-feet-tall, six-legged Nova-C lander is part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative, with NASA investing $118 million and Intuitive Machines contributing $130 million.
4
Artemis 3 mission prep
Odysseus carries scientific equipment to study the lunar environment, specifically in the rocky region chosen for NASA's crewed Artemis 3 mission.
5
Solar-poweredexploration
The solar-powered lander will operate for seven days before entering Earth's shadow, with two more Intuitive Machines launches planned for this year.