Private lunar lander Athena lands sideways, mission concludes

​​​​​​​By Simgenur Akbolat

ISTANBUL (AA) - Lunar lander Athena landed sideways from its intended site, where it is unable to recharge, causing the mission to conclude, Intuitive Machines said Friday.

The US-based private space exploration company from the state of Texas announced that Athena successfully touched down near the lunar south pole but landed inside a crater on its side, approximately 250 meters (273 yards) from its target which marks the southernmost lunar landing and surface operations ever achieved.

Due to the orientation of its solar panels, extreme cold and the lack of sunlight inside the crater, Athena is not expected to recharge, effectively bringing the mission to a close, said the company.

According to a company's statement, the region is known for its harsh sun angles, extreme cold and limited direct communication with Earth, making it a highly challenging environment.

Despite the lander's unexpected final position, mission controllers were able to accelerate key program and payload milestones before the lander’s batteries depleted. Teams are continuing to assess data collected throughout the mission.

Intuitive Machines emphasized that insights gained from the mission will pave the way for future lunar exploration efforts in the challenging region.