Why in News? 

• The private lunar lander Athena, developed by Intuitive Machines, has stopped functioning after landing sideways in a crater near the Moon’s south pole. 
• The mission was part of NASA’s commercial lunar delivery program to facilitate research and technological advancements for future Moon exploration. 

What is Athena? 

• Athena was a lunar lander developed and operated by Intuitive Machines, a private space company. 
• It was designed to deliver scientific experiments and technology payloads to the Moon. 
• The lander carried $62 million worth of scientific instruments, including:  
  • An ice drill to search for frozen water. 
  • A drone to explore the lunar surface. 
  • Two rovers to study the unexplored terrain. 

Key Highlights of the Mission 

• Athena missed its intended landing site by 250 meters and ended up in a frigid crater. 
• It managed to send images confirming its position and activated a few experiments before going silent. 
• Due to solar panel misalignment and extreme cold, the lander’s batteries could not be recharged. 
• One of the rovers remained stuck on the lander but was operational. 

 Previous Intuitive Machines Mission 

• A similar mission last year also ended with a sideways landing, but the lander functioned for a longer period. 
• Despite failures, the mission marked the first U.S. lunar landing in over 50 years. 

 Other Recent Lunar Landings 

• Another Texas-based company, Firefly Aerospace, successfully landed its Blue Ghost lander in the Moon’s northern latitudes earlier in the week. 
• NASA’s commercial lunar delivery program aims to boost private sector participation in lunar exploration.