Space photos from 5 recent moon-landing missions show how tiny engineering errors can cause big problems, like crashing or landing sideways

Tech Insider
gold moon lander upside down on grey lunar surface beside image of a new crater on the moon with white disturbed regolith around it
While Japan's moon-landing error caused its robot to land upside-down (left), Israeli nonprofit SpaceIL's error caused its lander to crash (right).

JAXA/Takara Tomy/Sony Group Corporation/Doshisha University; NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University; Business Insider

Watch the video of Intuitive Machines and NASA landing on the moon and hitting a snag, with $118 million on the line

Tech Insider
moon lander tall rectangular box with with wide metal legs one flat solar panel and gold and silver foil on a stage in front of an american flag
The Intuitive Machines Nova-C lander that's set to fly to the moon in February.

Intuitive Machines/NASA

SpaceX Launches Private Odysseus Lander to the Moon

Gizmodo

A new mission is headed towards the Moon, with hopes of touching down on the lunar surface for a chance at a historic landing. But given the recent string of failures, we’re understandably nervous.

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Want to Send Your Ashes to the Moon? Here’s Why You Should Reconsider

Gizmodo

When NASA attempted to return to the Moon for the first time in 50 years on January 8, more was at risk than just $108 million worth of development and equipment. The agency earned the ire of the Native American Navajo people, who made a bid to stop the launch because of an unusual inclusion in the payload.

After Peregrine failed to land on the moon, Astrobotic still plans to launch another lunar lander in November

Tech Insider
A picture shows ULA's Vulcan Centaur rocket taking off, leaving behind a blast of energy.
Astrobotic's Peregrine lander launched toward the moon on Monday, January 8, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

Astrobotic

The doomed US moon lander is on a collision course with Earth and will be destroyed to protect other satellites

Tech Insider
Photo of dented Multi-Layer Insulation on board the Peregrine mission.
This image taken from Peregrine after launch showed damage to the lander's outer sheeting.

Astrobotic

Former SpaceX engineers explain how the US's first moon landing mission in decades may have gone wrong and how to prevent similar anomalies

Tech Insider
ULA rocket taking off into space with a giant billowing cloud of gas underneath it.
Astrobotic's Peregrine Lunar Lander launched on a United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur rocket.

CHANDAN KHANNA/Getty Images

A Possible Explanation Arises for Peregrine Lunar Mission Failure

Gizmodo

The Peregrine lander has less than a day to live, and the company behind the spacecraft may have figured out why its mission was doomed shortly after its launch.

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Astrobiotic thinks it knows what caused the fuel leak that doomed the first US moon mission since Apollo

Tech Insider
A picture taken from an onboard camera shows on of the sides of Astrobotic's Peregrine lander. A small sliver of light is seen on the right hand side.
A new snap of the Peregrine lander was shared by Astrobotic on X on Tuesday.

Astrobotic

The US's moon mission now has 'no chance' of landing on the moon after a fuel leak that started hours following the launch

Tech Insider
ULA rocket taking off into space with a giant billowing cloud of gas underneath it.
Astrobotic's Peregrine Lunar Lander launched on a United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur rocket on Monday.

CHANDAN KHANNA/Getty Images

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