UPDATE: Intuitive Machines’ NOVA-C lunar lander, contrary to initial reports, did not land safely in an upright position. According to a report from The Associated News (“AP News”), Intuitive Machines’ CEO Steve Altemus stated yesterday (2/23/2024) that the lunar lander was coming in too fast, caught a foot in the surface, and may have snapped a leg. The lunar lander is now believed to be resting on its side against a rock. The AP News update may be read HERE.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
NBC News reports that Intuitive Machines’ NOVA-C lunar lander made history yesterday (2/22/2024) as it became the first privately-built spacecraft to land on the surface of the moon. The lander touched down on the lunar surface at approximately 6:23 PM EST after overcoming a late-stage glitch with its onboard laser instruments. The NOVA-C lunar lander, nicknamed Odysseus, is now the first American spacecraft on the moon since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.
The mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services Program (“CLPSP”), which exists to support the development of moon landers by private-sector companies.
Last month, a separate company tried but failed to send a lander to the moon under the CLPSP; however, that spacecraft, built by Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic Technology, suffered a crippling malfunction shortly after launch and the mission was scrapped.
The NBC News report may be read HERE.
As a youngster, this writer was enamored by the NASA Apollo program, including the programs leading up to Apollo – Project Mercury and Gemini. The loss of Astronauts Edward H. White, Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom and Roger B. Chaffee (pictured below) in a flash fire within the command module of the Apollo 1 spacecraft at Cape Kennedy’s Launch Complex 34 on January 27, 1967 was a very emotional event which touched my heart, even as a child.
This was a time when even huge governmental agencies such as NASA were responsive to U.S. citizens, even children.
When I was in 3rd grade, I wrote NASA to inquire about the extent of the damage to the Apollo 1 capsule and whether it, or part of it, was able to be salvaged. To my family’s surprise, NASA sent me a personalized letter with a dozen or so high-resolution, color photographs from the Apollo program!
I used the letter and photographs to give a presentation to all of the 3rd grade classrooms at my elementary school – complete with music playing in the background. While many kids were riding bikes or playing “kick the can,” I spent many afternoons on my back in the grass pretending to be inside a spacecraft landing on the moon!
The vastness and majesty of space could only be created and maintained by the Creator Himself!
At a time when the Cold War with the former Soviet Union and the Vietnam War were at the forefront of nearly all political considerations, NASA and its astronauts bravely pushed through the 1960s in order to meet the goal articulated by President John F. Kennedy on May 25, 1961, when he stated:
“I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth. No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind, or more important for the long-range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish.”
Genesis 1:14-18 (NLT)
“Then God said, ‘[l]et lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, days, and years. Let these lights in the sky shine down on the earth.’ And that is what happened. God made two great lights—the larger one to govern the day [the sun], and the smaller one to govern the night [the moon]. He also made the stars. God set these lights in the sky to light the earth, to govern the day and night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.”
Psalm 103:19 (Amplified Bible)
The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, [a]nd His sovereignty rules over all [the universe].”
Hebrews 11:3 (NLT)
“By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.”
Praise Jesus forevermore!