Now, A Second Toppled Lunar Lander -- For Intuitive Machines -- Results In Dramatically Shortened Lunar Mission...

While the other private craft on the lunar surface, called Firefly, is doing quote well -- this one, called Athena, is at end of mission after only 24 hours. Since it is laying on its side, it cannot deploy the lil rover, or the drill rig -- and other than some early readings, it will not transmit any additional data.

Still it was a soft landing, and it did power up -- it just landed on uneven ground, despite a self- guiding camera system. . . and is now a cold brick. Here's the Beeb on all that:

. . .A private spacecraft that landed lopsided on the Moon does not have enough power to complete its mission, says the company Intuitive Machines.

Athena touched down on the lunar South Pole shortly after 1730GMT (1230EST) on Thursday, but it later was revealed the craft had landed on its side.

It was supposed to spend 10 days searching for water ice, but the position of its solar panels and the cold temperatures of the rocky region mean it cannot recharge. . . .

"With the direction of the sun, the orientation of the solar panels, and extreme cold temperatures in the crater, Intuitive Machines does not expect Athena to recharge," the company said in a statement about the mission called IM-2. Last year Intuitive Machines' first spacecraft also landed on its side, breaking a leg. . . .

My understanding is that the Nokia cell network demonstrated its capabilities effectively. Sadly, though, the Intuitive Machines company stock fell about 25% yesterday -- on Friday, on the NASDAQ -- as it became clear that images showed it laying prone. Now you know. Space is a hard mug, man.

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