Several issues conspired to bring Athena down, including tough lighting conditions near the moon's south pole.

This was the company's second attempt to land on the Moon, with both missions having toppled over on the lunar surface.

The first was interference with the readings from Athena's laser altimeter, the instrument that helped the lander gauge its distance from the lunar surface. "In the final phase of descent ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER — After launching from Florida's space coast and cruising toward the moon for the last five months, the ...

Commercial company ispace announced its lunar lander had entered orbit around the moon ahead of a June landing attempt.

In February 2024, an American spacecraft landed on the moon for the first time in more than 50 years and ushered in a new era ...

Once dominated by government entities, space exploration has transitioned to the private sector, with companies such as ...