MDA Space Skymaker

Tag Archives: LIDAR

Simple Error Could Have Resulted in Intuitive Machines Mission Failure

On Feb. 22, 2024, Intuitive Machines’ Odysseus lunar lander captures a wide field of view image of Schomberger crater on the Moon approximately 125 miles (200 km) uprange from the intended landing site, at approximately 6 miles (10 km) altitude. Image credit: Intuitive Machines

At this stage of the Intuitive Machines IM-1 mission, there is good reason for the company and NASA to celebrate. The Odysseus descent and landing was mostly successful. The news that the spacecraft tipped over and possibly broke a “leg” though does take some shine off the exuberance. However, what was barely discussed at the almost hour and a half news conference Friday was the …

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Canadian LIDAR Technology

NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander

Laser technology has the image of being as futuristic as space travel itself, but lasers are being used for many purposes beyond their science fiction role as a weapon. And Canadian industry is taking a leading role in developing lasers for space applications. Canadian firms are world leaders in applying LIDAR (for light detection and ranging) technology in space, including inspecting tiles on the Space …

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