Published in: Forum Agenda, 27. February 2024

1. A US spacecraft lands on the moon for the first time in half a century

The Odysseus Moon lander completed a soft lunar touchdown on 22 February, becoming the first privately built spacecraft to land on the moon and the first US one to do so in 50 years.

However, Stephen Altemus, CEO of Intuitive Machines, the Texas-based company that made the robot, told reporters in a briefing it tipped over after landing, possibly because one of its six landing feet got caught during the final descent.

It’s believed to be lying on its side, propped up on a rock.

The Nova-C lander was sent to the moon on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on 15 February and touched down a week later at the Malapert A crater, about 300km from the moon’s south pole.

Despite tipping over, Intuitive Machines said Odysseus was “alive and well” after the “spicy seven-day mission” and engineers were sending commands to the vehicle. On 26 February, however, the company said it would be cutting the mission short after flight control engineers said they expect to lose contact with the lander.

NASA said the mission was designed to study “plume-surface interactions, space weather/lunar surface interactions, radio astronomy, precision landing technologies, and a communication and navigation node for future autonomous navigation technologies.”

2. UK considers drone-flying rule changes

The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is considering changes to drone-flying rules that would allow the delivery of critical medical supplies. The plans would make it easier for drones to be flown out of sight by pilots and form part of a wider scheme to better integrate the technology into UK airspace.

“Inspections of railways, powerlines, and roads as well as critical medical deliveries could be unlocked,” said the CAA.

Current rules restrict where drones can fly if their pilot is unable to see them – to avoid mid-air collisions – but the proposal would allow out-of-sight drones to fly at low altitudes where other aircraft would not be expected to operate. This could include flying close to buildings or powerlines.

3. In brief: Other tech stories to know

A tiny robot is set to simulate remote-controlled surgery on board the International Space Station. MIRA – which stands for miniaturized in vivo robotic assistant – will practice operating in zero gravity over the coming weeks, controlled by a surgeon in Nebraska, USA.

In other space news, Japanese scientists have built the world’s first wooden satellite and hope to launch it into space this summer. The LignoSat probe has been made to test if biodegradable materials could potentially be used in place of metals in space.

Meanwhile, Uber Eats customers in Tokyo, Japan will soon have their food delivered by a self-driving robot, says TechCrunch. The “sidewalk robot”, known as Model C, travels around three miles per hour and can navigate its surroundings using onboard cameras and sensors.

Mobile phones are to be banned in UK schools, the government has announced. Most schools already have bans in place, but the guidance issued in February for headteachers “will ensure there is a consistent approach in all schools”.

In the US, Waymo’s plans to expand its robotaxi services to parts of Los Angeles and San Francisco’s peninsula have been put on hold, amid safety concerns around autonomous vehicles.

Older people enjoy virtual reality (VR), a new study from Stanford University has found. Designed to see if VR can be beneficial to emotional and cognitive wellbeing, the study found that almost 8 in 10 of the 245 participants (aged 65-103 years old) reported having a more positive attitude after using VR.

4. More on technology from the Forum

As the metaverse evolves, comprehensively understanding identity is crucial for its potential to revolutionize how people interact and express themselves digitally, facilitating a space that respects privacy, security and human rights. Read more here.

Innovators need to learn to explain and sell the value of the technology they’re developing, argues Thomas Crampton, Co-Founder, Crampton Blackie Partners. He explores four ways innovators and entrepreneurs can engage more effectively with investors. Find out more here.

2025 will mark 100 years of scientific discoveries and breakthroughs based on quantum mechanics. With a second century of quantum development on the horizon, two quantum experts explore how governments, civil society and the private sector can collaborate to ensure inclusive and equitable advances. Learn more here.

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Image: DALL-E 3