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Transcript/ScriptThe Week in Space (TV)
HEADLINE: Odysseus Lunar Lander Makes History, Then Tips Over
TEASER: It didn’t go exactly as planned, but company officials claim victory.
PUBLISHED AT: 02/29/2024 at 2:55pm
BYLINE: Arash Arabasadi
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER: AP/ SpaceX / Intuitive Machines/ REUTERS/ NASA TV/ ROSCOSMOS/ Russian Pool/ NASA/SDO
SCRIPT EDITORS: Reifenrath, MAS
VIDEO SOURCE (S): AP/ SpaceX / Intuitive Machines/ REUTERS/ NASA TV/ ROSCOSMOS/ Russian Pool/ NASA/SDO
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO __
TRT: 2:30
NOTE: PART NO OBSCURE LOGO; PART NO ARCHIVE
VID APPROVED BY:
TYPE: TVPKG
UPDATE: ))
((INTRO))
The partial success of a lunar landing more than 50 years in the making. Plus, the U.S. says Russia may launch a nuclear weapon into orbit. The Kremlin calls it spin. VOA’s Arash Arabasadi brings us The Week in Space.]]
((mandatory cg: SpaceX))
((NARRATOR))
We begin this week on a launchpad at Florida’s Cape Canaveral. There, private spaceflight company SpaceX helped make history by launching Houston,
((mandatory cg: Intuitive Machines))
Texas-based Intuitive Machines’ Odysseus lunar lander – or Odie, for short – on a trip to the moon.
The project was a public-private partnership with NASA.
[RADIO TRACK: NASA Administrator Bill Nelson as provided by Intuitive Machines and carried by the Associated Press]
((mandatory cg: Intuitive Machines))
((Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator))
“Today, for the first time in a half century, the U.S. has returned to the moon. Today, for the first time in the history of humanity, a commercial company – an American company – launched and led the voyage up there. And today is a day that shows the power and promise of NASA’s commercial partnerships.”
((DO NOT OBSCURE LOGO))
((mandatory cg: NASA TV))
((NARRATOR))
Odie stuck a gentle landing on the moon’s surface, which the company’s CEO describes as its glowing achievement, despite the lander toppling over shortly thereafter.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing even up to that point. A laser guidance system failed after Odie’s Earth-based handlers forgot to remove its safety mechanism.
Crews there, much like many of us with our laptops and phones, also overlooked a software upgrade. So instead of knowing exactly where it was, Odie had to guess.
((mandatory cg: Intuitive Machines))
((NARRATOR))
Still, Intuitive Machines’ mission control room went wild ((celebrated)) after news that Odie touched down on the moon.
((NO ARCHIVE))
((mandatory cg: Intuitive Machines))
((NARRATOR))
Odie was able to beam back a few images from its journey, and details of the craft’s well-being remain unclear. On top of that, shares of Intuitive Machines fell by more than 30 percent after the lander’s lunar tumble.
((mandatory cg: ROSCOSMOS))
((NARRATOR))
Also this week, Russia successfully placed in orbit an Iranian satellite along with 17 of its own. Iran says the satellite has three cameras to monitor the environment and agriculture.
But the news comes as U.S. intelligence agencies warn that Russia may launch a nuclear weapon into space.
((mandatory cg: Russian Pool))
((NARRATOR))
In his annual state of the nation address, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke of his country’s advanced weaponry. He called accusations of space-based nukes an American “ploy” and fake.
((mandatory cg: NASA/SDO))
((NARRATOR))
Finally this week, NASA released images showing a pair of solar flares from the past few days. NASA says the bursts of energy can affect radio communications, power grids, and navigation signals while also threatening spacecraft and astronauts.
Arash Arabasadi, VOA News.
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
Subtitles / Dubbing AvailableNo
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateFebruary 29, 2024 15:39 EST
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
