The United States is on the brink of a historic moment as a lunar spacecraft named Odysseus, or Odie for short, is set to attempt a landing on the moon. This mission marks the first American-made spacecraft landing on the lunar surface in over 50 years. Odie is part of the Nova C class of lunar landers and was launched atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, traveling a quarter of a million miles to reach lunar orbit.
The key component of this mission is a 3D printed engine that utilizes both liquid methane and liquid oxygen, a first for a spacecraft in lunar orbit. This engine is crucial in slowing Odie down to just one meter per second for a controlled landing on the moon, a feat likened to hitting a golf ball in New York City and having it land in a specific hole in Los Angeles.
