The Odysseus lunar lander, developed by Intuitive Machines, has achieved a significant milestone in space exploration by firing its main engine for nearly seven minutes, placing the spacecraft into a 57-mile-high orbit around the moon. This accomplishment sets the stage for a groundbreaking landing attempt on Thursday, marking the first such mission for a U.S. spacecraft in over 50 years.

Named "Odie," the spacecraft is now positioned closer to the moon than the driving distance across Space City, Houston, as reported by Intuitive Machines. In preparation for the upcoming landing near the crater known as Malapert A, located 186 miles from the moon's south pole, flight controllers will conduct thorough data analysis and transmit imagery of the lunar surface over the next day.

With a successful test fire of its methane-oxygen propulsion system last Friday and precise trajectory correction maneuvers, Odysseus underwent a crucial lunar orbit insertion (LOI) burn on Wednesday, slowing down the spacecraft by 1,789 mph to reach the planned circular orbit. Flight controllers at Intuitive Machines's Nova Control Center in Houston are working diligently on health checks and rehearsals to ensure a smooth descent to the moon's surface on Thursday.

Supported by six NASA payloads and six commercial ones, including unique contributions such as miniature moon sculptures by artist Jeff Koons and insulation blankets by Columbia Sportswear, Odysseus aims to enhance our understanding of the lunar environment and test innovative technologies.

This momentous mission is part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program (CLPS), which encourages private industry to develop transportation capabilities for lunar missions. The agency's ultimate goal is to gather critical data for future Artemis missions that are planning to land near the moon's south pole in the coming years.