The Odysseus lander has successfully touched down after a “nail-biting” descent saw the first ever privately owned craft reach the moon’s surface.

The Intuitive Machines’ lander is also the first US lander to successfully reach the moon touch down on the moon’s surface in more than 50 years – since the last of NASA’s Apollo programme in 1972.

There was applause and cheers in the Houston control room as landing success was confirmed after a few tense minutes.

“I know this was a nail-biter, but we are on the surface, and we are transmitting,” Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus said.

“Welcome to the moon.”

The team had to wait well past the expected touchdown time for confirmation that there was a signal before celebrating.

The lander was successfully launched aboard a SpaceX rocket last week.

Following the latest update: Moon landing live

Image:
Intuitive Machine’s IM-1 Nova-C lunar lander. Pic: Intuitive Machine via AP

NASA administrator Bill Nelson called the mission a “triumph” and a “giant leap forward for all of humanity”.

In a televised statement following the successful landing, he said: “Today for the first time in more than half a century the US has returned to the moon.

“For the first time in the history of humanity, an American company launched and led the voyage up there.

“Today is a day that shows the power and promise of NASA’s commercial partnerships.

“Congratulations to everyone involved in this great and daring quest at Intuitive Machines, SpaceX and right here at NASA.

“What a triumph – Odysseus has taken the moon. This feat is a giant leap forward for all of humanity. Stay tuned.”

This image from video provided by SpaceX via NASA TV shows Intuitive Machines' lunar lander separating from the rocket's upper stage and heading toward the moon, on Feb. 15, 2024. (SpaceX -NASA TV via AP)
Image:
Intuitive Machines’ lunar lander separating from the rocket’s upper stage and heading toward the moon. Pic: SpaceX via AP

NASA is the mission’s main sponsor, paying $118m (£93.5m) to put its experiments on board as part of a programme which could eventually see astronauts return to the moon later in the decade.

Odysseus is also carrying six other payloads from commercial companies.

It has landed closer to the moon’s south pole than any other craft.

The region has many more craters, cliffs and boulders than the equator, where the Apollo landings were in the 60s and 70s.

Scientists hope to find layers of ice, or perhaps Arctic-style permafrost, from which they can create hydration for astronauts – something which would enable them to stay for prolonged missions.

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