APOD: Odysseus on the Moon (2024 Mar 02)

[APOD Robot]

Odysseus on the Moon

Explanation: Methalox rocket engine firing, Odysseus' landing legs absorb first contact with the lunar surface in this wide-angle snapshot from a camera on board the robotic Intuitive Machines Nova-C moon lander. Following the landing on February 22, broken landing legs, visible in the image, ultimately left the lander at rest but tilted. Odysseus' gentle lean into a sloping lunar surface preserved the phone booth-sized lander's ability to operate, collect solar power, and return images and data to Earth. Its exact landing site in the Moon's far south polar region was imaged by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. Donated by NASA, the American flag seen on the lander's central panel is 1970 Apollo program flight hardware.

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[Rauf]

Odysseus on the Moon

Donated by NASA, the American flag seen on the lander's central panel is 1970 Apollo program flight hardware.

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1970 Apollo program flight hardware? What does that mean?

[Gendler]

“Odysseus' gentle lean into a sloping lunar surface preserved the phone booth-sized lander's ability to operate, “

A phone booth is going to be a foreign concept for anyone under the age of 50…..lol. Unfortunately I am familiar with phone booths .

[johnnydeep]

Odysseus on the Moon

Donated by NASA, the American flag seen on the lander's central panel is 1970 Apollo program flight hardware.

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This Day in APOD

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1970 Apollo program flight hardware? What does that mean?

I'd imagine it was an attempt at humor: a flag is ultimately just a piece of "hardware", and this one came from the Apollo days. Though you could argue that when talking about a complete flag, only the "pole" is hardware and the flag itself is software.

[johnnydeep]

“Odysseus' gentle lean into a sloping lunar surface preserved the phone booth-sized lander's ability to operate, “

A phone booth is going to be a foreign concept for anyone under the age of 50…..lol. Unfortunately I am familiar with phone booths .

This was discussed a few days ago. A few other, perhaps more universally recognized terms, were suggested: "out house" and "porta potty".

[Cousin Ricky]

“Odysseus' gentle lean into a sloping lunar surface preserved the phone booth-sized lander's ability to operate, “

A phone booth is going to be a foreign concept for anyone under the age of 50…..lol. Unfortunately I am familiar with phone booths .

This was discussed a few days ago. A few other, perhaps more universally recognized terms, were suggested: "out house" and "porta potty".

How about a “TARDIS”?

[johnnydeep]

“Odysseus' gentle lean into a sloping lunar surface preserved the phone booth-sized lander's ability to operate, “

A phone booth is going to be a foreign concept for anyone under the age of 50…..lol. Unfortunately I am familiar with phone booths .

This was discussed a few days ago. A few other, perhaps more universally recognized terms, were suggested: "out house" and "porta potty".

How about a “TARDIS”?

Yeah, I had suggested that one too! See viewtopic.php?t=43674#p337351

[Fatimfsel14]

Odysseus carefully angled his approach on the gently sloping lunar surface, ensuring the small lander, reminiscent of a phone booth in size, maintained its operational capabilities.