A second Intuitive Machines spacecraft just landed on the moon — and probably tipped over

Core Points - Intuitive Machines successfully landed its second spacecraft, Athena, on the moon, but it may have tipped over during landing [1][2] - The landing occurred on the south pole of the moon, specifically on Mons Mouton, with the exact landing position still being determined [2] - The mission is considered smoother than the previous year's attempt, despite concerns about the spacecraft's orientation [2] Mission Details - Athena was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on February 26 and is carrying several technologies for testing [3] - One key technology is a passive laser retroreflector array, essential for NASA's plans to establish a permanent moon base, supported by a $4.8 billion contract awarded to Intuitive Machines [4] - The spacecraft also carries an ice mining experiment aimed at assessing the moon's natural resources for future fuel and breathable oxygen production [4] Additional Payloads - Athena includes a rover named MAPP, designed to test cellular equipment from Nokia [5] - The mission features solid-state storage, which is being promoted as the first-ever "lunar data center" [5]