US moon landing 2024 LIVE — Odysseus spacecraft lands near lunar south pole for first time since Apollo mission
A SPACECRAFT from the United States has landed on the moon for the first time since the historic Apollo mission in 1972.
The private lunar lander, called Odysseus, touched down at 6:23 pm ET, six days after it blasted off from Cape Canaveral in Florida.
The successful 620,000-mile journey and landing marked the first time the United States has returned to the moon in over 50 years.
Owned by Texas-based Intuitive Machines, the uncrewed craft was carrying NASA instruments that will help prepare the US for future human exploration of the lunar surface.
NASA's mission commanders called the landing a "nail-biter" as they were hit with communication issues during touchdown.
However, they eventually announced that Odysseus "found his new home" and welcomed the craft to the moon.
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The significance of ice on the moon
Scientists hope a bounty of frozen water exists in the moon's south pole, which could be used for human life support and production of rocket fuel.
"The ice is really important because if we can actually take advantage of that ice on the surface of the Moon, that's less materials we have to bring with us," Nasa's director of planetary science Lori Glaze told the BBC.
"We could use that ice to convert it to water - drinkable drinking water - and we can extract oxygen and hydrogen for fuel and for breathing for the astronauts. So it really helps us in human exploration."
Nasa's next mission
Odysseus landed closer to the moon's south pole than any other craft in history – with Nasa aiming to send its first crew to the location in the next decade.
The region contains more craters, cliffs and boulders than the equator, where the Apollo landings were.
Nasa is aiming to send astronauts to the location in 2026 as part of its Artemis program, with scientists hopeful of finding ice which could be used for hydration for prolonged missions.
Nervy touchdown
There were plenty of nerves when there was no signal from Odysseus at all for several minutes after it was due to touchdown on the moon.
A feint communications link was eventually made, but it led to concerns over the status of the lander.
However, after a couple of hours, Intuitive Machines confirmed that the robot was upright and sending back data.
Watch: The moment the landing was confirmed
Here is the moment flight controllers confirmed the landing.
"Without a doubt our equipment is on the surface of the moon and we are transmitting," a flight controller said.
White House Office of Science and Technology sends its congratulations
The White House Office of Science and Technology has congratulated Nasa and Intuitive Machines for the successful lunar landing.
"Welcome to the moon," it said in a post on Twitter, which included a quote from President Joe Biden.
Intuitive Machines makes history
Intuitive Machines made history by becoming the first commercial company to put a spacecraft on the moon when its Odysseus robot landed near the lunar south pole – the first time American hardware had landed on the moon since the Apollo mission in 1972.
The Houston-based space exploration company was founded in 2013 by Stephen Altemus, Kam Ghaffarian and Tim Crain.
According to its website, the company's lunar program will provide "lunar surface access, lunar orbit delivery and communications at lunar distance."
US space agency Nasa purchased room for six scientific instruments on Odysseus.
"The US has returned to the Moon," Nasa administrator Bill Nelson said. "Today, for the first time in the history of humanity, a commercial company - an American company - launched and led the voyage up there. And today is the day that shows the power and promise of Nasa's commercial partnerships."
The first time in 50 years
History was made yesterday as a US spacecraft landed on the moon for the first time in 50 years.
Once the landing was confirmed, Mission director Tim Crain told control room staff “Welcome to the moon.”
The mission was part of Nasa’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative, which aims to involve commercial companies in the exploration of the Moon.
Which countries have been to the moon?
Only five nations have completed a successful soft landing on the moon before.
The countries that have achieved this great feat are:
- United States (NASA)
- Soviet Union (Interkosmos)
- China (CNSA)
- India (ISRO)
- Japan (JAXA)
Learn some more about Apollo 11 mission
Neil Armstrong became the first human to step on the moon on July 20, 1969.
He was commander of Apollo 11 and went into space with Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin and command module pilot Michael Collins.
Buzz became the second human to walk on the moon.
Armstrong famously said: "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind."
Individuals share excitement
People from all over the world are estatic after the United States successfully landed a spacecraft on the moon for the first time in over 50 years.
Odysseus spacecraft pictured
Below is the spacecraft Odysseus which made history yesterday when it became the first United States spacecraft to land on the moon in over 50 years.
The Nova-C lunar lander designed by aerospace company Intuitive Machines is displayed at the companyâs headquartersCredit: Reuters Pictures from yesterday’s moon landing, part two
Below are some more sights and scenes from yesterday’s historic moon landing.
Odysseus spacecraft lands on the moon in historic feat as US returns for the first time since Apollo missionCredit: AP 
Odysseus lunar lander over the near side of the moon following lunar orbit insertionCredit: AP Pictures from yesterday's moon landing
Below are some sights and scenes from yesterday's historic moon landing.
Scorpius Space Launch Company (SSLC) team members react as the Intuitive Machinesâ Odysseus lunar landsCredit: AFP 
This image provided by Intuitive Machines shows its Odysseus lunar lander with the Earth in the backgroundCredit: AP Others have tried but failed
The Japanese Hakuto-R and Israeli Beresheet spacecraft crashed during their attempts to land on the moon in April 2023 and April 2019 respectively, after reaching lunar orbit.
After a propellant leak destroyed the Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic’s Peregrine lander during its launch last month, it crashed down to Earth.
Yesterday's landing marked the first time the United States has returned to the moon in over 50 years.
Some interesting facts about the Moon
There are four moon phases — New Moon, First Quarter, Full Moon, and Last Quarter.
NASA explains: "The shape of the Moon isn’t changing throughout the month. However, our view of the Moon does change.
"The Moon does not produce its own light. There is only one source of light in our solar system, and that is the Sun.
"Without the Sun, our Moon would be completely dark.
"What you may have heard referred to as 'moonlight' is actually just sunlight reflecting off of the Moon’s surface."
A Full Moon is see every 29.5 days.
NASA's most recent achievement
NASA has successfully landed a spacecraft on the moon for the first time since the historic Apollo mission in 1972.
The private lunar lander, called Odysseus, touched down at 6:23 pm ET, six days after it blasted off from Cape Canaveral in Florida.
The successful 620,000-mile journey and landing marked the first time the United States has returned to the moon in over 50 years.
Learn about NASA’s achievements, part two
NASA has helped develop and test a variety of cutting-edge aircraft too, including planes that have set new records.
Among other benefits, these tests have helped engineers improve air transportation and NASA technology has even contributed to many items used in everyday life, from smoke detectors to medical tests.
In 2018, NASA celebrated its 60th anniversary.
On November 26, 2018, NASA's Insight probe landed on Mars, and sent back a series of selfies from the Red Planet just four minutes after landing.
Learn about NASA's achievements
When NASA started, it began a program of human spaceflight.
The Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs helped NASA learn about flying in space and resulted in the first human landing on the Moon in 1969.
Currently, NASA has astronauts living and working on the International Space Station.
NASA’s robotic space probes have visited every planet in the solar system and several other celestial bodies.
Telescopes have allowed scientists to look at the far reaches of space.
More on NASA
Since its establishment, most US space exploration efforts have been led by NASA, including the Apollo Moon landing missions, the Skylab space station, and later the Space Shuttle.
NASA also supports the International Space Station and is oversees the development of the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle, the Space Launch System and Commercial Crew vehicles.
The agency is also responsible for the Launch Services Program which provides oversight of launch operations and countdown management for unmanned NASA launches.
NASA’s main focus is a better understanding of Earth, but also extensively explores other bodies in the Solar System.
What to know about NASA
NASA stands for National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
The independent agency is part of the US Federal Government and is responsible for the civilian space programme.
It is also responsible for aeronautics and aerospace exploration.
The agency’s headquarters are in Washington DC.
The Space Age began in 1957 with the launch of the Soviet satellite Sputnik.
NASA was established the following year by President Eisenhower and the agency succeeded the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA).
What nations have landed on the moon?
Only five nations have completed a successful soft landing on the moon before.
The countries who have achieved this great feat are:
- United States (NASA)
- Soviet Union (Interkosmos)
- China (CNSA)
- India (ISRO)
- Japan (JAXA)
Odie's business on the moon
Odie's lunar journey might be viewed as a kind of reconnaissance mission, intended to evaluate the lunar surface ahead of NASA's present intention to send a crewed mission back to the moon via the Artemis program in late 2026.
Because it is believed to contain water ice reserves, the south pole of the moon is a focus of intense attention amid a new international space race.
The resource might be transformed into rocket fuel for space missions or even drinking water for astronauts.
The moon is deceptive to Earthlings
How we see the Moon on Earth is not how it actually appears in outer space.
For example, the Moon's surface is actually dark, but it appears bright in the sky due to its reflective ground.
Also, the Moon covers the Sun almost completely during a solar eclipse. However, both objects appear to be similar in size in the sky because the Sun is both 400 times larger and farther away.
Americans praise moon landing
Multiple Americans are celebrating the United States first moon landing in over 50 years.
'Welcome to the moon'
History was made today as a US spacecraft landed on the moon for the first time in 50 years.
Once the landing was confirmed, Mission director Tim Crain told control room staff “Welcome to the moon.”
The mission was part of Nasa’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative, which aims to involve commercial companies in the exploration of the Moon.