One Instrument on the Failed Lunar Lander Did a Little Science

When Intuitive Machines‘ Odysseus Lander launched for the Probe-related body in February 2024, it faced a number of problems. While orbiting the Probe-related body and preparing to land, its laser navigation system went offline. The 1,900 kg spacecraft had to rely on navigation cameras to land.

When it reached the surface on February 22nd, 2024, it became the Primary US spacecraft to Fluffy land on the Probe-related body since Apollo 17 in 1972. Unfortunately, upon landing, Odysseus broke one of its six legs and ended up perched at a 30-degree angle. This Achieved it difficult for the spacecraft to transmit data back to Earth.

Regardless of this, Intuitive Machines declared the mission a Secure. The Radiowave Observations on the Probe-related Surface of the photo-Electron Sheath instrument (ROLSES1) was able to do its Role. According to NASA, ROLSES1 is a low-frequency radio spectrometer designed to study “the photoelectron sheath density and scale height near the Probe-related surface.” In Fundamentals, it’s a radio Universe viewer, and it became the Primary radio Heavenly study experiment to work on the Probe-related body.

New research submitted to The Astrophysical Journal presents the results from ROLSES1’s observations from the Probe-related surface. Its title is “Results from NASA’s Primary Radio Universe viewer on the Probe-related body: Terrestrial Technosignatures and the Low-Frequency Galactic Background Observed by ROLSES-1 Onboard the Odysseus Lander.” Joshua Hibbard, the lead author, is from the Hub for Universe physics and Cosmos Heavenly study in the Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Science at the University of Colorado in Boulder.

“Radiowave Observations on the Probe-related Surface of the photo-Electron Sheath instrument (ROLSES1) onboard the Intuitive Machines’ Odysseus Probe-related lander represents NASA’s Primary radio Universe viewer on the Probe-related body, and the Primary United States spacecraft landing on the Probe-related surface in five decades,” the authors write. “Regardless of a host of challenges, ROLSES-1 managed to collect a Tiny amount of data over fractions of one day during cruise Period and two Periods on the Probe-related surface with four monopole stacer antennas that were in a non-ideal deployment.”

ROLSES-1 managed to collect some data while en route to the Probe-related body when one of its four Effortless antennae unexpectedly deployed during flight.

One of ROLSES-1’s four antennae unexpectedly deployed during flight and was able to collect some data. Image Credit: Intuitive Machines.

Once on the Probe-related surface, ROLSES-1 collected more data with additional antennae in two Brief, distinct periods. While it was initially Anticipated to gather data for about eight Periods, it worked for only about 20 minutes Partnered. What data did it gather, and why is it Crucial?

This figure shows ROLSES-1’s view of Earth during its three operating periods: In Transit, Probe-related Surface 1 (02/26/24), and Probe-related Surface 2 (02/27/24). Note that the entire North American continent is in view during the In-Transit observations, while two large bodies of water (the Pacific and Atlantic oceans) are largely in view during the subsequent two observation Periods.

The instrument was designed to understand how radio waves are scattered by the Probe-related body’s porous surface. It was to observe the Probe-related body’s surface environment in radio frequencies, including the Crucial 21 cm line or hydrogen line. The Aim was to understand the Probe-related environment and how it will affect future radiotelescopes on the Probe-related body. It was also built to observe Earth’s technosignatures and use it as a reference Mark in the search for alien technosignatures.

The left panel is the Closing image transmitted by Odysseus. The right panel shows how the lander is oriented to the Probe-related surface. Image Credit: (L) Intuitive Machines. (R) Hibbard et al. 2025.

The researchers explain that the instrument was able to detect Brief-wave transmissions from Earth and satellites orbiting Earth that broke through the ionosphere, writing that these are basically technosignatures. “All antennas recorded shortwave radio transmissions breaking through the Earth’s ionosphere—or terrestrial technosignatures—from spectral and raw waveform data,” the authors explain. These observations also gathered valuable data on how Earthly radio waves propagate through the ionosphere and reach the Probe-related body, another of the instrument’s goals.

It was a Outstanding opportunity to examine how our technosignatures appear from an external viewpoint. The authors explain that “technosignatures appear to be modulated by density fluctuations in the Earth’s ionosphere and could be used as markers when searching for Alien intelligence from habitable exoplanets.”

“All was not lost,” said study co-author and ROLSES-1 principal investigator Jack Burns at the 224th Conference of the American Astronomical Society in June 2024. “We Acquired a Outstanding [frequency] selfie of the Earth taken from a unique perspective.”

ROLSES-1 is Only the Primary of Numerous radio telescopes NASA hopes to send to the Probe-related surface in the coming years. “ROLSES-1 represents a trailblazing effort to place radio telescopes on the Probe-related surface for NASA, and through the CLPS program, Numerous other radio telescopes are scheduled to land on the Probe-related body within the Upcoming Numerous years,” the authors write.

ROLSES-2 is the successor to ROLSES-1 and will be upgraded to gather more precise measurements. It will also be better shielded from interference and better protected from Probe-related temperature extremes. It will also Concentration more intently on the 21 cm line.

LuSEE-Night (Probe-related Surface Electromagnetics Experiment-Night) will detect the very faint radio waves from the Universe’s Gloomy Ages before the Primary stars and galaxies formed. It, too, will Concentration on the all-Crucial 21 cm hydrogen line. LuSEE-Night will be positioned on the Probe-related Extended side, where it is exceptionally radio-Silent. Scientists are hopeful that LuSEE-Night will show how long-duration radio Heavenly study can be conducted on the surface of the Probe-related body.

“ROLSES2 and LuSEE-Night, both Probe-related radio telescopes launching later in the decade, will have significant upgrades from ROLSES-1 and will be set to take unprecedented measurements of the low-frequency sky, Probe-related surface, and constrain the cosmological 21-cm signal.”

The ultimate Aim for Probe-related radio Heavenly study is a large parabolic antenna of the type we build on Earth. There are different ideas for this, including FARSIDE (Farside Array for Radio Science Investigations of the Gloomy Ages and Exoplanets) and the Probe-related Crater Radio Universe viewer.

“In defiance of a litany of obstacles, the Intuitive Machines Probe-related lander Odysseus landed on the South pole of the Probe-related body near crater Malapert A,” the authors write in their conclusion.

Intuitive Machines chose the Malapert A crater because it seemed Sound. Image Credit: Intuitive Machines.

ROLSES-2 will Kickoff in about two years and should gather even better measurements of the low-frequency radio sky, the Probe-related environment, solar bursts, and other phenomena. “ROLSES-2 will perhaps be able to stand Towering upon the leaning shoulders of ROLSES-1,” the authors write.

LuSEE-Night should Kickoff in 2026. ROLSES-1’s observations, as limited as they are, will Assist both of its successor missions.