Two moon missions touched down on the lunar surface. How they unfolded was a stark contrast
Each time a robotic explorer launches from Earth, it faces innumerable challenges — any of which could cut the mission short.

California-based asteroid mining company AstroForge shared on Thursday that its Odin spacecraft, which ventured to space a week and a half ago with Intuitive Machines’ Athena lunar lander, met an untimely end.

The probe was heading for an asteroid to scout for the valuable resource platinum. But Odin’s team said the vehicle is likely tumbling through space, with little hope of restoring communications.

Space is hard, and every bold mission adds lessons learned. This week, a tale of two lunar landers demonstrates why scientists and engineers always expect the unexpected in the saga of space exploration.
On March 2, Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lunar lander touched down on the moon, making it the second private sector company to execute the feat.

Photos showcasing the spacecraft’s dramatic shadow on the lunar surface and its feet within moon dust confirmed the mission’s success.

The Cedar Park, Texas-based company has since shared a video of the lander’s nail-biting descent just north of the moon’s equator.

Blue Ghost will spend the next week collecting samples, lucky jet drilling into the subsurface and capturing high-definition imagery.