The first private space probe to land on the Moon, Odysseus, completed its mission after seven days on the Moon's surface

The first private space probe to land on the moon, Odysseus, has died, North American company Intuitive Machines announced on the X social network.

The device, which landed on the surface of the moon on February 22, entered a “sleep” state at the end of its main mission, after seven days on the surface of the Earth's natural satellite, and did not “wake up” again.

“Odie is gone forever,” Intuitive Machines announced Saturday.

On February 22, Odysseus became the first private probe to land on the moon and the first American spacecraft to do so after 1972, the year the Apollo program sent the last astronauts to the moon's surface.

The probe, which transmitted images and scientific data, was on an inclined plane, in the Antarctic region, after a turbulent landing due to a malfunction in the navigation system.

Despite this, some solar panels were still able to continue operating and providing energy.

However, it was not certain whether the engine batteries would survive the extreme cold of the lunar night.

Despite the “death” of the probe, Intuitive Machines and the North American Space Agency (NASA), the company's partner in the mission, considered, through the scientific instruments on board, that Odysseus' stay on the moon was a success.

NASA plans to return astronauts to the surface of the moon in 2026, including the first woman and the first black person, specifically to the Antarctic region, where there will be icy water.