This orientation prevented the lander's solar panels from capturing enough sunlight, and Intuitive Machines declared Athena dead on March 7. (The company's first moon lander, named Odysseus, also tipped over during its historic February 2024 touchdown but was able to operate for longer on the lunar surface.)

After hours of uncertainty, officials from the Houston company said there are clues that the spacecraft is on its side, which could limit the mission’s scientific accomplishments.

Athena, the private lunar lander from Intuitive Machines, missed its mark while landing on the moon Thursday and ended up sideways in a frigid crater. It did, however, manage to send back pictures confirming its position and activate a few experiments before going silent.