A private spacecraft that landed lopsided on the Moon does not have enough power to complete its mission, says the company Intuitive Machines. Athena touched down on the lunar South Pole shortly after 1730GMT (1230EST) on Thursday, but it later was revealed the craft had landed on its side. It was supposed to spend 10 days searching for water ice, but the position of its solar panels and the cold temperatures of the rocky region mean it cannot recharge. Intuitive Machines partnered with US space agency Nasa to explore whether humans can live on the Moon. “With the direction of the sun, the orientation of the solar panels, and extreme cold temperatures in the crater, Intuitive Machines does not expect Athena to recharge.” The spacecraft is now expected to run out of power and the mission will end.
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