Private spacecraft makes first US Moon landing in over 50 years

In a huge moment for space exploration, the first private lander has touched down on the Moon.

Not only that, but it's the first US Moon landing in over 50 years - the last time was the final landing of NASA's Apollo program in 1972.

But it wasn't entirely smooth sailing for the private spacecraft - called Nova-C Odysseus - after touching down on the Moon, it managed just a weak signal back until flight controllers scrambled to gain better contact.

Intuitive Machines, the company that built and managed the craft, eventually confirmed that it had landed upright - which is a hugely positive sign - but it's yet to give us any more details, so we don't even know if it managed to reach the Moon's south pole as planned.

A live webcast was following the historic moment, but it ended as soon as a lone, weak signal was identified from the lander.

“What we can confirm, without a doubt, is our equipment is on the surface of the moon,” mission director Tim Crain said, as tension built in the company’s Houston control center.

Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus added: “I know this was a nail-biter, but we are on the surface and we are transmitting. Welcome to the Moon."

Last month another private company, Astrobotic Technology, tried to pull of a lunar landing - but was unsuccessful and crashed back to Earth. But it would seem like there are no hard feelings - Astrobotic posted its congratulations on X, formerly Twitter: "An incredible achievement. We can’t wait to join you on the lunar surface in the near future."

Both companies are part of a NASA-supported program to kickstart thet lunar economy - Intuitive Machines was given $118 million to build and fly this lander.

So what exactly happened to Odysseus? Well, a few hours before touchdown its laser navigation system failed - instead, an experimental NASA laser system had to be user last minute, with the lander taking an extra lap around the Moon to put it into place.

The 14-foot lander carries six experiments for NASA, as well as 125 mini moon figurines from American artist Jeff Koons. It's insulated with a lightweight, shimmery gold fabric that normally lines the insides of ski jackets, made by US brand Columbia Sportswear.

Odysseus blasted off from Cape Canaveral in Florida last week, on top of a Falcon 9 rocket made by Elon Musk’s company SpaceX.

It is solar-powered, and is intended to operate for a week - until the long lunar night sets in.

And that's not all - a second Intuitive Machines mission is set to lift off next month, which will aim to drill for resources at the Moon’s south pole.

Featured Image Credit: Intuitive Machines/ GREGG NEWTON / Contributor / Getty