U.S. Spacecraft Touches Down On The Moon

PENZANCE, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 13: Clouds clear to allow a view of the final full moon of the year, a so-called 'Cold Moon', as it appears behind lights illuminating Penzance seafront on December 13, 2016 in Cornwall, England. The last full moon of the year was also the final supermoon of 2016. The natural phenomenon occurs when the perigee (closest approach by the Moon to Earth) coincides with it being full (completely illuminated by the Sun). (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) — Clouds clear to allow a view of the final full moon of the year, a so-called ‘Cold Moon’, as it appears behind lights illuminating Penzance seafront on December 13, 2016 in Cornwall, England. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

OAN’s Sophia Flores
4:41 PM – Thursday, February 22, 2024

For the first time in over 50 years, the United States has landed on the moon.

On Thursday, a robotic spacecraft called the Odysseus became the first U.S. spacecraft to land on the lunar surface since 1972. It is the first commercial vehicle to reach the achievement from any country.

🚨#BREAKING Odysseus has become the first U.S. spacecraft after it successfully landed on the moon marking the first such mission since 1972. pic.twitter.com/iUElz2NA40
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) February 22, 2024

The 14-foot-tall lander was created by Intuitive Machines, a private space company based out of Houston, Texas. The company worked in partnership with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The spacecraft left earth with the help of a SpaceX rocket on February 15^th. It was pulled into lunar orbit on Wednesday.

Prior to the Odysseus landing on a flat area near the Malapert A crater, 185 miles north of the moon’s south pole, the mission faced an unexpected issue with the navigation system. During its self-controlled landing, a company spokesman announced that an “aa laser instrument” on the spacecraft that was meant to provide data on its altitude and velocity was not working.

The dilemma resulted in the spacecraft taking an extra orbit around the moon before landing.

While it has been confirmed that the Odysseus is on the lunar surface and is operating, no word on its condition has been released yet.

This is a breaking story. Check back for updates.

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