The Odysseus spacecraft entered lunar orbit Wednesday and is now set to land on the moon later today. If successful, it would be the first commercial vehicle to land on the lunar surface and the first American spacecraft since Apollo 17 in 1972. Analysts expect the spacecraft to attempt the landing Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Eastern time.
If you’re looking for more context on this matter, please consider Scott Pace, a Professor of the Practice of International Affairs, 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].
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