Private Moon Landing Challenges and Opportunities

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Discussion of the upcoming private American firm Intuitive Machines' two-ton lander Odysseus that aims to achieve the first successful private moon landing in five decades. The chapter also explores an upcoming mission to scout the moon's south pole for potential human bases, highlighting the new commercial lunar payload services model by NASA and the trend of private companies conducting experimental missions in space exploration.

If it succeeds—and that is no sure thing—this week’s soft landing of Odysseus will be the first by a private firm. We examine the prospects and the business models of the Moon rush. Our producer visits Ukraine to mark the anniversary of a revolution that helped to shape today’s conflict (11:22). And the rise and coming fall in entertaining British obituaries (21:25).

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