Headline is misleading. The Nokia hardware worked fine; it’s the host vehicle from Intuitive Machines that tipped over and ran out of power.
Wait isn’t intuitive the one that tipped over last time as well?
That’s correct. IM-1 in Feb 2024 and IM-2 in Mar 2025 both ended with tipped-over landers.
That… seems like a poor design.
It’s a rock and sand desert. There never was wind to even out the surface. It’s a challenge to find level ground big enough for a lander.
An important point to remember with these IM landers is they’re attempting to land on much rougher terrain than anything we’ve accomplished so far, and it’s attempting to do so autonomously by constantly snapping photos and analyzing them in real time to determine a safe landing spot. This was just their second attempt, I wouldn’t count them out yet.
God damnit. I thought it was gonna be interesting. Thanks for the warning.
Why the fuck are they even trying this?
Even under perfect conditions it takes more than 2 seconds for the radio waves to go to the moon and back.
Imagine livestreaming video from 4G-connected rovers and other cameras on the moon, right to your phone, whenever you want. That would be wild…
“Hey guys! It’s me Rover-21a, gonna be exploring this CRAZY and SPOOKY moon cave today, be sure to hit that line and subscribe button and now a bit about our sponsor, RAID: SHADOW FLOPRIB!”
Title: You wouldn’t believe what I found.
“Chat, which rock should I test first?”
I reccomend that anyone and everyone who can afford to do this start planning for it immediately. Just get in a ship, and leave earth. Go now.
