Athena Lunar Lander Crashes: A Sliding Second Base

Intuitive Machines' Athena lunar lander experienced an unexpected landing. While its navigation software successfully identified nearby craters, an altimeter malfunction caused it to impact the lunar surface at an angle, skidding and rotating several times before coming to rest in a shadowed crater. Dust covering the solar panels prevented sufficient power generation to run heaters, leaving the lander facing power depletion and cold temperatures. This mission proved even more disappointing than anticipated.