EagleCam team intends to deploy its camera system to capture Odysseus moon lander

The telemetry data of the Odysseus spacecraft has confirmed that the EagleCam instrument, an onboard camera system on the Odysseus spacecraft, is still fully operational, and the team that built this instrument now intends to deploy its camera system to capture the current status of the Odysseus spacecraft on the lunar surface.

The students of Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University designed and developed this miniature satellite camera system, named EagleCam, which Odysseus spacecraft carried to the lunar surface.

The EagleCam instrument was originally designed to capture the lunar touchdown moment of Odysseus
The EagleCam instrument was originally designed to capture the lunar touchdown moment of Odysseus (as in the picture above). (Image credit: Intuitive Machines)

The EagleCam instrument was originally planned to be deployed during the Odysseus spacecraft’s final lunar descent to capture the spacecraft’s moon landing moments.

Related article: EagleCam couldn’t capture any photos of the Odysseus lander during landing 
Operational diagram of the EagleCam camera system of the Odysseus lander
Operational diagram of the EagleCam camera system of the Odysseus lander. (Image credit: Intuitive Machines) 

But that could not be done because the spacecraft encountered a software glitch with its communication and navigation system during its final descent. As a result, the EagleCam instrument was kept shut down and not deployed to ensure the soft landing of Odysseus spacecraft.

Related article: Know how NASA’s onboard instrument saves Odysseus lander from crash moon landing 

The EagleCam instrument deployment plan was changed again as the spacecraft landed softly on the lunar surface but with an unexpected attitude. Telemetry data from the spacecraft shows that it is not standing upright on the lunar surface, but rather, it is lying on its side.

Related article: Odysseus moon lander tipped over on the lunar surface during landing 

The faculty lead of the EagleCam team, Dr. Troy Henderson, said in a statement:

“We are currently running simulations which show that EagleCam should deploy a total distance of somewhere between 3 to 5 meters, with a best guess at about 4.1 meters.”

They also added, “That distance would give the device, during its ejection from the side of the lander, an opportunity to capture photographs of Odysseus’ orientation and overall health. The imagery would then be transferred via Wi-Fi back to the lander and then transmitted down to engineers on Earth for analysis.” 

Although the EagleCam team is eagerly awaiting the deployment of their instrument, the current timeline for deployment remains unknown. Perhaps it is relying on Intuitive Machines, the private US company that sent the Odysseus spacecraft.

Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter to get latest space news, upcoming skywatching events and astronomy-related content.  

Photo of author

About the Author

Ashim

Ashim Chandra Sarkar founded Space & Telescope in 2022. He holds a M.Sc. in physics and has five years of research experience in optical astronomy. His passion for astronomy inspired him to open this website. He is responsible for the editorial vision of spaceandtelescope.com.

Related Articles

The International Space Station is viewed from a camera aboard the approaching SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft

NASA instrument arrives at ISS to demonstrate quantum entanglement

FacebookTweetPinShares NASA’s SEAQUE (Space Entanglement and Annealing Quantum Experiment) instrument has arrived at the International ...

Ryan Connor captured the fireball that burned over Lake Erie on October 21, 2024, from North Royalton, US

Brilliant fireball lights up the skies over Lake Erie on October 21

FacebookTweetPinShares A brilliant fireball lights up the skies over Lake Erie on the evening of ...

Mechazilla launch tower catches the Starship Super Heavy booster rocket after returning on the fifth test flight

SpaceX catches mammoth Starship booster rocket on its 5th test flight

FacebookTweetPinShares Elon Musk’s company SpaceX has caught the lower part of Starship (called the Super ...

An artist’s illustration of the Parker Solar Probe spacecraft approaching the sun

Parker Solar Probe completes its 21st close approach to the sun

FacebookTweetPinShares NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has completed its 21st close approach (called perihelion) to the ...

Leave a Comment