US Achieves First Moon Landing since 1972 with Private Spacecraft

The United States has successfully landed a spacecraft on the moon for the first time in more than fifty years since the Apollo era.

The spacecraft, named "Odysseus," operated by the American company United Machines, entered the moon's orbit on Wednesday and commenced its landing sequence by Thursday evening, not later than 10:30 PM GMT.

Utilizing its onboard guidance system at an altitude of 100 kilometers, Odysseus navigated to a point about 30 kilometers above its designated landing site before making a direct descent.

The spacecraft, weighing around 675 kilograms, touched down near the lunar crater "Malapert," located some 300 kilometers from the moon's south pole.

This area, characterized by its crater-filled terrain adjacent to 5-kilometer-high mountains, presents a significant landmark for lunar exploration.

Odysseus carries an array of scientific instruments and technological prototypes on behalf of NASA and several commercial clients.

It is designed to operate on solar power for 7 days before the sunset occurs over its polar landing site.

The onboard instruments and prototypes from NASA are set to focus on collecting data related to the interactions of space weather with the lunar surface, radio astronomy, and other aspects of the lunar environment that are crucial for future landing vehicles and NASA's plans to send astronauts back to the moon later this decade.

This historic landing not only marks a significant milestone in lunar exploration but also paves the way for future manned missions, enhancing our understanding of the moon's environment and its potential for scientific discovery.