THE Odysseus moon spacecraft will begin a historic landing today, the US's first attempt at a moon landing in half a century.

The lander, built by Texas-based Intuitive Machines, aims to be the first private lunar lander to successfully land on the moon.

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The Nova-C Odysseus launched on February 15 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, where it began its week-long journey to the moon's surface.

The launch was initially scheduled for Valentine's Day (February 14), but was postponed due to a problem with fuel temperatures.

The 675 kg spacecraft is currently in orbit about 92 kilometers above the moon.

“After a journey of more than 1,000,000 km [620,000 miles]Odysseus is now closer to the moon than the end-to-end distance of Space City, Houston, Texas,” the company confirmed in an X post yesterday.

Odysseus' time in lunar orbit will be short-lived, as the lander aims to land near the moon's south pole on February 22, no earlier than 5:30 PM EST (10:30 PM GMT).

If successful, it will be the first U.S. landing on the lunar surface since NASA's Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

“Flight controllers expect a delay of approximately 15 seconds before confirming the ultimate milestone, a soft landing on the moon's surface,” the company said. wrote in a landing description.

Once it reaches the surface, Odysseus will operate for only two weeks, or one lunar night.

Twelve payloads are on board the lander, including a next-gen system with four cameras to record the journey to the surface and landing sensors built in Britain by a company called MDA.

It comes just weeks after the US lunar lander Peregrine failed to reach the surface due to a fuel leak.

Peregrine Falcon disintegrated upon reentry into Earth's atmosphere just ten days after launch.

Mysterious South Pole

Intuitive Machines is targeting a crater near the south pole, known as Malapert A, as its landing site.

The south pole of the moon has been a place of interest for all spacefaring countries including India, Russia, China and the US.

Last year, India made history by becoming the first country to land near the southern location.

A few days earlier, Russia also attempted a landing at the South Pole, which ended in an emergency landing.

NASA's Artemis III mission — the first human mission on the moon since Apollo 17 — aims to explore an area near the moon's south pole.

Scientists believe the South Pole is the most promising location for water-based ice, which they say is key to future human habitation on the moon.

This latest attempt to reach the moon is part of NASA's $2.6 billion Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative, which aims to engage commercial companies in lunar surface exploration.

This allows NASA to instead channel its efforts (and money) toward getting astronauts back on the moon.

It's part of a decade-long program that hopes to culminate in a permanent moon base, which NASA hopes to build by the end of this decade.

As part of this mission, the space agency has tapped private industry to engage the sector with rocket launches and lunar landers.

MOTORCROSS star Jayden Archer has died aged 27 while performing a dangerous trick.

The Australian rider rose to fame when he became the first motocross rider to perform a triple backflip in competition.

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Archer – nicknamed 'Jayo' – was attempting the stunt during training in Melbourne when it went wrong on Wednesday.

Nitro Circus, an action sports group, called Archer the “epitome of passion” in a tribute.

It read: “The Nitro Circus family mourns the loss of Jayo Archer.

“Jayo was the epitome of passion, hard work and determination.

“He pushed what was possible on a dirt bike to unprecedented heights.

“A positive influence on those around him. And above all, a wonderful person and friend to us all.”

Archer made headlines in 2022 when he performed the first-ever freestyle motocross triple backflip during a competition at the Nitro World Games in Brisbane.

As he celebrated, he proposed to his girlfriend Beth King as the crowd cheered.

They were supposed to get married later this year.

After performing the trick, he said, “I can't describe this feeling.

“This is so much more than a trick to me. I have dedicated my entire life to this moment for the past three years.

“There were a lot of obstacles, broken bones and knockouts, and I would do it again a hundred times to relive that moment.”

It is understood that he intended to perform the world's first quadruple backflip before his death.

Archer performed his first show in 2012 and went on to win two X Games medals, including one in California last year.

In a tribute to InstagramNitro Circus founder Travis Pastrana wrote: “Thanks for the memories buddy.

“Thank you for being such a wonderful human and positive role model for all of us.”

According to official records, two bikers performed a triple backflip, but not during a competition.

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Man arrested for ‘trying to have sex with tree’ after horrified sunbathers saw him ‘kiss and rub’ stump

• The man in his 40s was arrested Tuesday afternoon in Salisbury, Wiltshire

By Eirian Jane Prosser

published: 7:15 PM EDT, June 15, 2023 | Updated: 7:51 PM EDT, Jun 15, 2023