US Moon Lander's Battery Likely Has Hours Left: Company

Intuitive Machines said the images captured during the Odysseus lander's descent represent the 'closest observations of any spaceflight mission to the south pole region of the Moon' (Credit: AFP)

An American lunar lander that tipped over during its historic touchdown last week likely only has hours left until its battery runs out, the private company operating it said Tuesday.

The uncrewed Odysseus, built by Houston-based Intuitive Machines, made the first return by a US craft to the Moon in five decades -- and the first such successful mission by the private sector.