ILOA receives first lunar surface and descent images from ILO-X

International Lunar Observatory Association (ILOA Hawai'i) is not just over the Moon, but ON THE MOON, having had its precursor ILO-X instruments land and operate from the lunar surface aboard the Intuitive Machines IM-1 Mission Nova-C class lunar lander named Odysseus. The ILO-X payload includes a miniaturized dual-camera wide and narrow field-of-view lunar imaging suite.

"We are very appreciative of Intuitive Machines and our ILO-X payload developer / contractor Canadensys Aerospace Corporation for their professionalism and perseverance during this historic lunar mission," states ILOA Director Steve Durst.

The image shown here from the ILO-X WFoV during Deorbit, Descent and Landing (DDL) shows the lunar surface, craters and dramatic shadows of the Moon South Pole region, and part of the Intuitive Machines' Nova-C spacecraft in high-resolution.

To date, ILOA has received 9 high-resolution and 105 thumbnail images from the ILO-X imagers which will be shared as soon as the data has been processed internally.

There may also be a last-minute opportunity for instrument contractors at Canadensys to try and image the lunar surface with the ILO-X WFoV before the instruments are powered down.

The ILOA international team of 28 Directors will celebrate the successes achieved from this mission so far, including raising awareness for our future ILO-1 mission to Malapert Mountain.

ILOA Hawai'i is working toward the long-term goal of permanent astronomy / observations and communications from the Moon with the ILO-1 lunar observatory and to share images of the Milky Way Galaxy Stars with the 8 Billion people of Earth.