Intuitive Machines’ lunar lander is effectively on its option to the moon after launching with no hitch on Thursday, however it managed to snap a number of unbelievable photographs of Earth whereas it was nonetheless near dwelling. The corporate shared the primary batch of photographs from the IM-1 mission on X in the present day after confirming in an earlier submit that the spacecraft is “in wonderful well being.” Together with a view of Earth and a few partial selfies of the Nova-C lander, nicknamed Odysseus, you may even see the SpaceX Falcon 9 second stage falling away within the distance after separation.
Intuitive Machines efficiently transmitted its first IM-1 mission photographs to Earth on February 16, 2024. The pictures have been captured shortly after separation from @SpaceX‘s second stage on Intuitive Machines’ first journey to the Moon below @NASA‘s CLPS initiative. pic.twitter.com/9LccL6q5tF
— Intuitive Machines (@Int_Machines) February 17, 2024
Odysseus is on observe to make its moon touchdown try on February 22, and thus far seems to be performing effectively. The staff posted a collection of updates on X on the finish of the week confirming the lander has handed some key milestones forward of its landing, together with engine firing. This marked “the first-ever in-space ignition of a liquid methane and liquid oxygen engine,” in keeping with Intuitive Machines.