"Odysseus Moon Lander's Shortened Mission: New Photos and Soft Landing Technology"

The private U.S. moon lander Odysseus, operated by Intuitive Machines, is expected to lose contact with flight control engineers on Tuesday, cutting short its mission five days after a sideways touchdown due to testing shortcuts and human error. The spacecraft's laser-guided range finders failed to operate because engineers neglected to unlock the safety switch before launch, leading to an experimental work-around during the final descent. Odysseus' sideways posture limits solar panel exposure, hindering battery recharging, and communication with Earth. Despite the setback, Odysseus became the first U.S. spacecraft to land on the moon since 1972 and the first lunar landing by a commercially manufactured and operated space vehicle.