Multifunctionele maanlander Athena infographic
Graphic explains various instruments carried by the Athena moon lander.
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RUIMTE

6 Mrt: Landing Athena maanlander op de maan gepland

By Ninian Carter

March 6, 2025 - A six-legged moon lander called Athena, is carrying a payload of devices to the lunar surface, including two rovers and a hopper that investigates craters.

A six-legged, almost five-metre-tall moon lander called Athena, is carrying a payload of devices to the lunar surface, including two rovers and a machine that hops about investigating craters.

Developed by Intuitive Machines, this is its second moon lander, due to touchdown on March 6, one year after its first attempt ended in failure when it tipped over on landing.

Upon setting down on a flat-topped mountain called Mons Mouton, some 160 kilometres from the lunar South Pole, solar-powered Athena will have 10 days to perform numerous experiments before the sun sets on the pole and it shuts down permanently.

The lander is packed full of scientific instruments, including a four-wheeled rover, a tiny two-wheeled rover from Japan called YAOKI, and the Micro Nova Hopper, dubbed “Grace”, that uses hydrazine thrusters to take off and land – travelling as far away as two kilometres from Athena.

Sources
PUBLISHED: 04/03/2025; STORY: Graphic News
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