This orientation prevented the lander's solar panels from capturing enough sunlight, and Intuitive Machines declared Athena dead on March 7. (The company's first moon lander, named Odysseus, also tipped over during its historic February 2024 touchdown but was able to operate for longer on the lunar surface.)

After hours of uncertainty, officials from the Houston company said there are clues that the spacecraft is on its side, which could limit the mission’s scientific accomplishments.

A day after a live webcast captured a somber-looking mission control room in the minutes surrounding its planned Thursday landing time of 12:32 p.m., the company has confirmed on its website that its IM-2 Nova-C class lunar lander is on its side — a fate that matches its first lander, IM-1, that toppled upon landing in Feb. 2024.