Lunar Outpost reported that the small MAPP rover sent aboard the Athena module survived the flight and descent to the lunar surface, but was unable to escape from the lander, which fell on its side. If not for the landing accident, the rover would have been able to drive around the area around the landing zone and demonstrate its full capabilities.
Image source: Lunar Outpost
«Our data clearly shows that MAPP survived the landing attempt and would have been able to travel across the lunar surface and achieve our mission objectives if given the opportunity,” the developers said.
Intuitive Machines’ IM-2 mission was partially successful. The craft touched down gently near the moon’s south pole, but tipped over on its side, making it impossible to recharge its batteries from solar panels. The sun is always low in that area, and solar panels require a vertical orientation. The module’s tipped over took the batteries completely out of the light zone.
Just 24 hours after its descent, the IM-2 mission was declared complete. The MAPP (Mobile Autonomous Prospecting Platform) rover on board the module was able to transmit useful data before the mission was terminated due to a lack of energy.
«”Our MAPP Lunar Voyage 1 rover successfully reached the Moon, collected data from the lunar surface and en route, and proved that MAPP is ready to go,” the American space exploration company Lunar Outpost said in a statement. According to the company, the four-wheeled vehicle survived the landing and was ready to move around the Moon, but the position of the Athena lander after landing prevented its deployment.
«”The Intuitive Machines lander on its side prevented MAPP from deploying,” Lunar Outpost said in a statement. “Our data clearly shows that MAPP survived the landing attempt and would have traveled across the lunar surface and achieved our mission objectives if it had been given the opportunity.”
The 45cm-long MAPP rover carried a number of payloads. It was to test Nokia’s LTE/4G communications system on the moon and collect a small amount of lunar regolith, which it planned to sell to NASA for $1. This symbolic deal was intended to set a legal precedent for the use of space resources.
None of these goals were achieved due to the suboptimal landing, but the data collected during MAPP’s flight to the Moon, in lunar orbit, and on the surface confirmed the functionality of a number of systems and components that will be useful for future Lunar Outpost missions. In particular, Intuitive Machines’ third module is scheduled to fly to the Moon later this year. It will also carry Lunar Outpost’s rover, Lunar Voyage 2. Two more rovers will be launched later.
Nokia also confirmed that an attempt to call the moon using the company’s LTE/4G equipment installed on MAPP failed. Nokia’s equipment was put into operation and responded to commands from the California center for 25 minutes. A power shortage forced the attempt to be abandoned.
Nothing is known about the fate of the second lunar rover, Grace. It was supposed to jump to the bottom of craters in the eternal shadow to search for water ice deposits. It is possible that it did not survive the flight or landing.