CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Another private U.S. company took a shot at the moon Thursday, launching a month after a rival’s lunar lander missed its mark and came crashing back.
NASA, the main sponsor with experiments on board, is hoping for a successful moon landing next week as it seeks to jumpstart the lunar economy ahead of astronaut missions.
SpaceX’s Falcon rocket blasted off in the middle of the night from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, dispatching Intuitive Machines’ lunar lander on its way to the moon, 230,000 miles (370,000 kilometers) away.
The lander resembled a stunning six-pointed star jewel — each point a leg — as it successfully separated from the upper stage and drifted off into the black void with the blue Earth far below.
Revealed: Brit tourist, 19, subjected to sex attack in Majorca 'was gang
World's largest span arch bridge opens to traffic
Xi Says Ready to Boost Mutually Beneficial Cooperation with Liberia
China's AG600M firefighting aircraft completes cold
Young Boys seals 6th Swiss soccer league title in 7 years after rallying from firing coach Wicky
Exhibiting a timeless elegance
Xi Congratulates Madagascar's President on Re
Xi Sends Condolences to Biden over Kissinger's Death
With Djokovic awaiting the winner, Murray trails Hanfmann at rain
Xi Focus: China's Leadership Holds Symposium for Soliciting Advice on Economic Work
Ohio judge to rule Monday on whether the state’s abortion ban stands
Xi Meets Chairman of Russian State Duma