The Intelligence from The Economist The Intelligence: I’m your private lander, a lander for money
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Feb 21, 2024 In this discussion, Tom Standage, the Deputy Editor at The Economist and a space exploration aficionado, sheds light on the ambitious quest for lunar landings. He delves into the challenges faced by private firms like the Odysseus lander, set to make history with a soft landing. The conversation touches on innovative partnerships between NASA and private companies through the CLPS program. Additionally, insights are shared on the resurgence of interest in the Moon, drawing parallels to the Cold War era and exploring the exciting business models of this new space race.
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Recent Moon Landing Attempts
- Five robotic landers attempted moon landings in the past year, but only two succeeded.
- These were from Japan's and India's space agencies, while a Russian probe and two private missions crashed.
Odysseus's Mission
- Odysseus aims to be the first private company to achieve a soft moon landing.
- This would also be the first American soft landing since the Apollo missions.
Challenges of Robotic Landings
- Robotic moon landings are difficult due to the lack of a pilot and the distance for remote control.
- The spacecraft must autonomously navigate, making many things susceptible to failure.