NASA Launches Odie Lunar Lander On Journey To The Moon’s Surface

If successful, this will mark the first touchdown of a U.S.-made spacecraft on the moon in five decades.

The Odysseus Lunar Lander has embarked on a historic journey to the moon’s surface.

‘Odie’ or ‘IM-1’ lifted off atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket around 1am Thursday morning from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Odie is now on an oval-shaped path around Earth. Once the spacecraft is 18 hours into spaceflight, the vehicle will ignite its motor for the first time. From then it will continue its fast-paced trip toward the lunar surface.

The moon is expected to give Odie a subtle gravitational pull as the spacecraft approaches, pulling the vehicle toward its cratered surface.

Odie is expected to make its touchdown attempt on February 22.

If successful, this will mark the first touchdown of a U.S.-made spacecraft on the moon in five decades.