Intuitive Machines’ Athena lunar lander touched down near the moon’s south pole but may have tipped over, creating uncertainty about its status.

Despite communication with controllers and solar power generation, the lander’s exact position remains unclear.

NASA and Intuitive Machines are assessing whether the onboard drill and drone can still function.

This was the second moon landing this week under NASA’s commercial lunar delivery program, following Firefly Aerospace’s successful Blue Ghost mission, the Associated Press has reported.

Athena’s landing advances private lunar exploration, though issues with other spacecraft, including NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer, highlight challenges in low-cost missions.

Written by B.C. Begley