IM-1

High school (ages 12+)
Space & Astronomy

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/im-1

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the spacecraft name?Odysseus
2. What is the lander model?Nova-C
3. What is the IM-1 mission?The IM-1 mission was a private spaceflight by Intuitive Machines that landed a small robot spaceship, called Odysseus, on the Moon in February 2024. It was the first commercial soft landing on the Moon.
4. Why did the Odysseus lander tilt on the Moon?When Odysseus touched the Moon's surface, it unexpectedly tipped about 30 degrees from its upright position. This happened because of an unforeseen event during landing.

Regolith: The layer of loose, heterogeneous superficial deposits covering solid rock, including dust, soil, and broken rock on the Moon's surface.
Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS): A NASA initiative that contracts with American companies to deliver science and technology payloads to the Moon.
In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU): The practice of using local resources on other celestial bodies to support human exploration and settlement, rather than relying solely on Earth-based supplies.
Methalox Propulsion: Rocket engine systems that use liquid methane and liquid oxygen as propellants, offering advantages in performance and potential for ISRU.