US company makes historic Moon landing

A private US company – Intuitive Machines – has made history by becoming the first commercial outfit to put a spacecraft on the Moon. 

It landed its Odysseus robot near the lunar south pole. It took some minutes for controllers to establish that the craft was down, but eventually, a signal was received. 

“What we can confirm, without a doubt, is our equipment is on the surface of the Moon and we are transmitting,” flight director Tim Crain announced.

The move marks an important moment for the commercial exploitation of space. 

“The US has returned to the Moon,” NASA administrator Bill Nelson said. “Today, for the first time in the history of humanity, a commercial company – an American company – launched and led the voyage up there. And today is the day that shows the power and promise of Nasa’s commercial partnerships.