A jumping robot has been sent to the Moon to explore craters.
On Thursday, February 27, at 2:16 AM Kyiv time, the SpaceX Falcon 9 successfully launched the Athena lunar lander from Intuitive Machines at launch complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
This marks the company's second attempt to land its spacecraft on the Moon following an unsuccessful mission last year. Athena is expected to land in the region of Mons Mouton, a flat-topped mountain located approximately 160 km from the Moon's south pole, on March 6. The mission on the surface will last for ten days.
Technological Equipment Onboard – New Developments for Future Human Landings
The Athena module carries scientific instruments from NASA, including a drilling system that will allow it to reach depths of over 90 cm in search of ice and other valuable resources.
A key device for the mission is the Micro Nova Hopper – a machine that will navigate the surface using hops, extending the research area up to 25 km from the landing site. It will explore craters that never receive sunlight.
0 Among other payloads:
- Nokia technology will test 4G communication between devices on the Moon.
- The YAOKI rover (weighing 498 g) from Japanese company Dymon Co. Ltd is designed to withstand falls into deep caves.
- The LV1 MAPP platform is intended for transporting payloads and gathering data.
1 2 Part of the Artemis Program
The Athena mission is part of the Artemis program, which lays the groundwork for upcoming crewed flights to the Moon. The lander is the third spacecraft actively heading towards the lunar surface. On March 2, the Blue Ghost vehicle from Firefly will attempt its first landing, and in the coming months, the Japanese company Ispace also plans a landing.
Previously, "Telegraph" reported that on February 28, a planet parade could be seen in Ukraine. Seven planets, three of which will be visible to the naked eye, will line up in an arc above the horizon.