Media Tip Sheet: NASA Attempts Second Lunar Landing One Month After Failed Mission


February 15, 2024

There’s liftoff in Cape Canaveral, Florida – NASA is attempting its second lunar lander mission this morning, less than one month after its last mission failed. This launch was originally set for takeoff early Wednesday morning but was postponed 24 hours due to an issue with the temperature of propellant needed to power the spacecraft. If successful, this spacecraft, nicknamed Odysseus, would become the first US spacecraft to make a soft landing on the moon since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

GW's Scott Pace

Scott Pace, a Professor of the Practice of International Affairs, is the Director of the Space Policy Institute, Director of the Institute for International Science and Technology Policy and Director of the MA International Science and Technology Policy program at the George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs.

Pace rejoined the faculty of the GW Elliott School of International Affairs in 2021 after serving as Deputy Assistant to the President and Executive Secretary of the National Space Council from 2017-2020. He previously served as the Associate Administrator for Program Analysis and Evaluation at NASA from 2005-2008 and Deputy Chief of Staff for the NASA Administrator from 2002-2003. Prior to NASA, he was the Assistant Director for Space and Aeronautics in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Pace’s research interests include civil, commercial, and national security space policy, and the management of technical innovation. Pace is following NASA’s second attempt to land a spacecraft on the moon.

If you would like to speak with Prof. Pace, please contact GW Media Relations at [email protected].

-GW-