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The latest industry upset with the use of AI: Fashion

New York City, USA – Last week, the fashion world descended on New York City for New York Fashion Week (NYFW). The bi-annual event celebrated the best in the industry and showcased the hottest trends for the season. NYFW is a massive money maker for the city and the fashion industry at large. On average, the event brings in a staggering $600m annually. But regardless of the stark economic and cultural value the event brings, it is overshadowed by the same existential threat hitting sectors like media and tech – artificial intelligence eroding existing jobs and limiting work opportunities in the future. Behind the glitz and glamour lies the same fears that in large part led to the Writers Guild and Screen Actors Guild strikes this past year – protection over one’s likeness. “When your body is your business, having your image manipulated or sold off without your permission is a violation of your rights,” Sara Ziff, founder and executive director of the Model Alliance, said in a statement. Yve Edmond is a model based in New York City. She says that because of the new era of AI-driven modelling, there is a lot of room for exploitation. “There are some people in the industry that had their body scanned or photos that have been collected of them over the years have gone on to create their virtual self, yet they have no ownership. They have no claim to that at all,” Edmond told Al Jazeera. She’s worried that this could undermine work opportunities for models in the near future. “As models, our image, our measurements, our posture, our body shape is our brand. In many cases, somebody takes ownership of that brand without our knowledge and without our compensation. We’re literally competing against ourselves in the market” Edmond added. Edmond is among the many models eager for reform and is pushing for the Fashion Workers Act in New York State. Among other larger changes, it would provide new safeguards that would protect models from clients who may try to use their image without their permission. The act would require models to give clear written consent for any digital replica of their respective likeness. It would also require clients to outline how they intend to use their image. The mind behind the legislation is The Model Alliance. “We introduced the Fashion Workers Act to create basic labour protections for models and content creators working in an industry that infamously operates without oversight. The misuse of generative AI presents a new challenge, and we cannot allow it to go unregulated,” Ziff, of The Model Alliance, said. The bill authored by state Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal would change how the fashion industry works in one of the single most iconic fashion cities in the world, rivalling only cities like Paris and Milan. Models argue this would also protect them from signing onto unfair contracts when the alternative is no work at all. “You don’t want to end up in a world where the model feels like they are forced to give their consent or they won’t get paid,” model Sinead Bovell told Al Jazeera. If passed, it would be a state-level law, but it helps set the stage for a more global push. Models say AI takes advantage of all of the sacrifices of real human models [File: Peter K Afriyie/AP Photo] Existential threat As the use of AI spreads across sectors ranging from media to customer service, business leaders argue that it will help improve workflow and help workers’ jobs get easier with the help of new tools. Yet that has not been reflected in the data. According to a November survey from Resume Builder, roughly one-third of business leaders say AI will lead to layoffs this year alone. Those are some of the concerns flaring up in global fashion as AI poses an existential threat by undermining work opportunities around the globe, especially for communities of colour. Models like Bovell have fought for more inclusivity in fashion and voiced this concern. “You’re going to have companies that take advantage of all of the sacrifices of real human models, and instead just kind of generate diverse identities, on the front end,” Bovell said. “You might have a brand profiting off of the marginalised identities of communities without actually having to pay them,” Bovell added. That’s exactly what happened with Levi Strauss last year. The brand launched a partnership with Dutch company LaLaLand.ai which allows for customised AI-generated models. In a release, the company said: “Lalaland.ai uses advanced artificial intelligence to enable fashion brands and retailers to create hyper-realistic models of every body type, age, size and skin tone. With these body-inclusive avatars, the company aims to create a more inclusive, personal and sustainable shopping experience for fashion brands, retailers and customers.” The move was met with public backlash and critics referred to it as problematic and racist. The clothing company later updated its statement. “We are not scaling back our plans for live photo shoots, the use of live models, or our commitment to working with diverse models. Authentic storytelling has always been part of how we’ve connected with our fans, and human models and collaborators are core to that experience.” Some companies are taking models out of the picture completely. In the last year, both Vogue Brasil and Vogue Singapore included AI-generated models on their respective covers in place of human models. Companies like Deep Agency created AI-generated models to model clothes. Danny Postma, who made the tool, said in a post on the social media platform now known as X that it will help marketers and social media influencers. In response to his thread, there was substantial public backlash among the applause. Critics said the concept was deeply unethical and undermined work both for models and those involved in the process, like photographers. Others accused the company of a cash grab and also referred to the move as dystopian. One user called Postma out saying: “I’m sure you also

RRTS: NCRTC plans to connect Greater Noida, Greater Noida West with…

Currently, RRTS runs on 17 km-long priority section between Sahibabad to Duhai Depot.

Migrants mass-released in San Diego as Newsom heads to White House

Fox News cameras were on the ground in San Diego Sector on Friday and captured a mass-release of migrants by Border Patrol as they deal with a surge in numbers in the busy border sector – just as California Gov. Gavin Newsom will meet President Biden at the White House. The Border Patrol bus released migrants onto the streets in San Ysidro, where migrants were handed over to a non-governmental organization for help. From there, they will move on to their final destination.  Migrants included those from India, Senegal, the Dominican Republic and Ecuador. Their destinations included Atlanta, New York, Chicago and New Jersey. BIDEN ADMIN WEIGHS EXECUTIVE ACTION ON BORDER CRISIS, DRAWING FIRE FROM LEFT AND RIGHT It comes hours before Gov. Newsom is one of a number of governors due to meet with President Biden at the White House, where the ongoing and historic migrant crisis will likely be on the agenda. Polling has shown that Biden faces an abysmal approval rating on the border crisis. The White House has called on Republicans to back a bipartisan Senate bill that would have surged staffing and resources to the border while limiting the ability of migrants to claim asylum. But conservatives have said the bill does not go far enough and would normalize high levels of illegal immigration. They argue instead that President Biden can change policies to solve the now three-year crisis at the border. This is a breaking news story; check back for details.

Schumer visits Ukraine, says he will ‘make clear’ to House Speaker Johnson ‘what is at stake’

Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and four of his Democrat colleagues arrived in Ukraine Friday morning to meet the country’s military leaders and President Volodomyr Zelenskyy, assuring U.S. support as billions of federal aid dollars remain in limbo. Schumer’s visit to Ukraine — the country that will mark two years since Russia’s invasion on Saturday — comes amid mounting pressure on House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to pass the Senate’s $95 billion foreign aid package that would deliver $60 billion in military assistance to help the Eastern European nation defeat Russian forces.  “When we return from Ukraine: We will make clear to Speaker Johnson—and others in Congress who are obstructing military & economic support—exactly what is at stake here in Ukraine, for the rest of Europe, for the free world Congress must pass the Senate’s national security bill,” Schumer said in a statement. ZELENSKYY APPEALS TO TRUMP, CONGRESS TO SEE ‘TRAGEDY’ OF RUSSIA INVASION IN EXCLUSIVE BRET BAIER INTERVIEW Schumer said the trip has four objectives: to demonstrate unwavering support for the Ukrainian people, reaffirm America’s commitment to NATO and European allies, to gain a comprehensive understanding of Ukraine’s armament needs and the potential consequences of failing to meet them, and lastly “we believe we are at an inflection point in history and we must make it clear to our friends and allies around the globe that the US does not back away from our responsibilities and allies.” The four senators joining Schumer in Lviv are all Democrats: Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Senate Armed Services Chairman Jack Reed of Rhode Island; Sen. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, chairwoman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, and Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. In 2022, Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., led a delegation of Republicans to the Eastern European nation.  ZELENSKYY TO FACE ‘RECKONING’ WHEN WAR WITH RUSSIA ENDS, EXPERT SAYS Republicans remain split on additional aid to Ukraine, and the package faces an uphill battle in the GOP-led House when they return from recess, as lawmakers are already paving the way for a backup plan. Zelenskyy has been urging the U.S. to continue its financial support to the war-torn nation for months.  Last week, the House unveiled a 30-page alternative proposal as Republican lawmakers shot down any chance of the Senate’s $95 billion aid package making it to the floor. Johnson and other Republicans have insisted that the southern border should be secured before approving additional Ukraine aid. Both Democrats and many Republicans still argue that it is in the best interest for the U.S. to help Kyiv remain independent of Russian President Vladimir Putin and that helping defeat the authoritarian leader is critical to avoiding a wider, more intense conflict. TRUMP SAID HE COULD END UKRAINE WAR NEARLY A YEAR AGO BUT STILL HASN’T LAID OUT SPECIFICS However, Republicans who have been critical of Ukraine argue the military funds lack proper oversight. Lawmakers point to a January Department of Defense (DOD) report, one of the most recent in a series of government watchdog publications highlighting deficiencies in overseeing U.S. aid to Ukraine, that outlines the inadequacies of both the Biden administration and the Ukrainian armed forces in effectively monitoring U.S.-supplied weapons.  The report from the inspector general specifically delves into enhanced end-use monitoring (EEUM), a classification reserved for weapons that “incorporate sensitive technology,” are “particularly susceptible to diversion or misuse,” or could have “serious consequences” if diverted or misused. According to the report, a substantial 59%, or $1.005 billion out of the total $1.699 billion value of EEUM-designated weapons sent to Ukraine, were classified as “delinquent.” This means that they were not monitored in accordance with DOD standards. Fox News’ Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.

Haley says US will have ‘female president’ — either herself or Kamala Harris

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley says that there is going to be a female president soon — either herself or Vice President Kamala Harris. Haley made the remarks during a Thursday interview on CNN with anchor Jake Tapper. “Donald Trump will not win the general election,” Haley told Tapper. “You can have him win any primary you want, he will not win a general election.” HALEY ON WHETHER TRUMP WILL CLINCH REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION NEXT MONTH: ‘LET’S SEE IF IT HAPPENS’ “We will have a female President of the United States, it will either be me or it will be [Vice President Kamala] Harris.” Haley’s comments seem to indicate she believes President Biden will either not stand for re-election or will not be able to complete his term, turning the Oval Office over to Harris. Haley, who is trailing Trump significantly in her home state of South Carolina, has not yet won a Republican primary.  TRUMP CAMPAIGN PREDICTS ‘A**-KICKING’ FOR HALEY IN HER HOME STATE, BUT SHE SAYS ‘I REFUSE TO QUIT’ Regardless, the former U.N. ambassador asserts that she is the only viable candidate in the general election. “If Donald Trump is the nominee, you can mark my words, he will not win a general election,” Haley said in the interview. Haley has repeatedly pledged to stay in the Republican presidential nomination race at least through March 5, when 15 states hold contests on Super Tuesday. She faces an extremely steep uphill climb to win the nomination against the former president, who remains the commanding frontrunner in the GOP race as he bids a third straight time for the White House. “We are focused on every state before us. Now it’s South Carolina on Saturday. Then it will be Michigan, then it will be Super Tuesday states, and we’ll take it from there,” Haley told Fox News Digital interview on Wednesday. Fox News Digital’s Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.

Virginia House, Senate and Gov. Youngkin to spar over state budget

The Democratic-controlled Virginia Senate and House of Delegates on Thursday each passed their own proposed version of the next two-year state budget, documents lawmakers will start to work from to fashion a compromise spending plan to send to Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin. Both chambers signed off on amendments to the 2024-2026 budget Youngkin first proposed in December, overhauling the governor’s vision and stripping out all but one component of his proposed tax policy changes. The House and Senate both opted to keep Youngkin’s pitch to expand the sales tax to cover digital services including streaming subscriptions, closing what he calls the “Big Tech” loophole, but they ditched his call to lower income tax rates and raise the state’s sales tax. Instead, they’re proposing a higher level of general fund spending, including larger pay raises for teachers and other public workers, and K-12 education allocations above what Youngkin envisioned. PROTECTION OF CONTRACEPTION ACCESS ADVANCES IN VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE Democratic leaders from both chambers said their proposals were structurally balanced and citizen-focused. Both bills passed on a bipartisan basis but only after Republicans voiced objections to dozens of individual provisions, including a signature Democratic proposal to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026. Each chamber will now take up the other’s plan and reject it, sending the bills to a conference committee, a small delegation of lawmakers who meet behind closed doors to hash out a compromise. In recent years, that process dragged on well past the close of the part-time Legislature’s session, with lawmakers struggling to reach agreement. This year’s session is scheduled to end in just over two weeks. Republican Del. Barry Knight of Virginia Beach, who was recently removed from the committee that oversees the budget process without explanation, criticized the House plan in a speech, warning it overspends and focuses too heavily on Democratic priorities. “In a negotiation, everyone needs a little something. If we want to avoid an impasse and not be here in June still fighting over this, this pie should have three slices: one for the Senate, one for the House and one for the executive branch because all are equal partners,” he said. Democrats called his criticisms unfounded, and Del. Luke Torian, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said he is optimistic lawmakers are on track to finish the budget work on time this year. With lawmakers set to take up the work of finding compromise, here are points of agreement, differences and items of interest in the two chambers’ bills: Youngkin campaigned on a promise to lower taxes and in his first two years in office succeeded in signing approximately $5 billion in tax relief — some in the form of one-time rebates — into law. In December, he announced he was pushing for a cut to the income tax rate, something he said would draw more people and jobs to the state, while seeking to offset that revenue reduction by increasing the sales tax rate and adding the tax on digital services. Democratic lawmakers and liberal advocacy groups criticized Youngkin’s proposed tax plan as a regressive handout to the wealthy. Republicans weren’t universally on board either. Democratic Sen. L. Louise Lucas of Portsmouth, who chairs her chamber’s Finance & Appropriations Committee, said in a hearing Sunday that the governor’s proposal was “not sustainable,” especially in light of recent findings by the state’s legislative watchdog that raised concerns about the current funding formula for public schools. House Republican Leader Todd Gilbert has said Democrats “hijacked” Youngkin’s plan, dumping the cuts but keeping part of the increase, which he said would harm families struggling with the aftermath of steep inflation. He sought unsuccessfully Thursday to remove that provision. “What you’re doing with this new tax is making it so that now people have to Netflix, pay another tax, and then chill,” he said. The future is murky for a Youngkin-backed proposal to move the NHL’s Washington Capitals and NBA’s Washington Wizards to Alexandria from the nation’s capital, and the competing budget proposals did nothing to make it clearer. While the House included language enabling the proposal in its version of legislation that makes updates to the budget for the current fiscal year — a separate bill that passed Thursday — the Senate did not. Lucas, who also did not allow a standalone bill to be heard in her committee, has said repeatedly that she has concerns about the financing structure for what she has taken to calling the “GlennDome.” Torian, who’s carrying the House standalone version of the bill, told reporters the conference committee would give members a chance to “reason together” over a possible path forward. Monica Dixon, a top executive at the teams’ parent company, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, said the bipartisan vote to pass the budget bill with the enabling language was an encouraging step forward. The House spending plan, but not the Senate’s, contains language directing the state to rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a carbon cap-and-trade program Youngkin has pulled Virginia from in a move that’s being challenged in court. The language in the House bill essentially makes Virginia’s participation in the program, which Democrats and other advocates say will help combat climate change, a condition of the budget. House Republicans, who along with Youngkin say the program is functionally an ineffective tax on ratepayers, raised questions Thursday about whether that approach was constitutional.

Kentucky House votes to change child labor laws, food stamp recipient requirements

Republican-backed measures to relax child labor rules and tighten food stamp eligibility standards won passage Thursday in the Kentucky House over impassioned objections from Democrats. In back-to-back votes, both bills advanced to the GOP-dominated Senate after long debates in the House, where Republicans also have a supermajority. Democratic lawmakers branded the proposals as harsh for low-income and young Kentuckians, while Republicans said the measures reflect policies that value work. One bill would insert income and asset tests for Kentuckians applying for benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and would impose work requirements for able-bodied adults with no dependents. SNAP helps low-income families supplement their budgets so they can buy groceries. KENTUCKY REPUBLICAN SAYS EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IS THE ANSWER TO WORKFORCE, CHILDCARE CRISES Republican Rep. Wade Williams said his bill would close loopholes that he portrayed as deterrents to getting more people into jobs, contributing to the state’s stubbornly low workforce participation rate. It’s a constant complaint he hears from employers struggling to find enough workers, he said. “The pandemic is behind us, and it’s time for a thoughtful solution on how we get more workers back in the workforce,” he said. “It’s not compassionate to simply keep somebody as a servant to the government.” Opponents warned that tens of thousands of low-income Kentuckians would lose food assistance under the stricter standards, putting them at greater risk of struggling to get enough to eat. The impact would go beyond able-bodied adults to affect young and elderly people as well, they said. Democratic Rep. Sarah Stalker read out the number of people estimated under the bill to lose SNAP benefits in a number of Kentucky counties, including those in Republican strongholds. “How poor do you have to be in Kentucky to be worthy of food?” she said. “That is the question of the day. We’re talking about a basic need and a right.” Other opponents of House Bill 367 noted that the tougher eligibility standards would put even more strain on food pantries and would come at a time when Kentucky is sitting on massive budget reserves. “We’re supposed to love the least among us,” said Democratic Rep. Chad Aull. “This is picking on them.” The bill would close a loophole allowing people to qualify for food stamps despite having significant available assets or an income well above the poverty level, Williams said. It also would reduce the gross income threshold for SNAP eligibility. It plugs another loophole, he said, with the goal of getting able-bodied adults between the ages of 18 and 52 with no dependents into the workforce. Williams said his constituents “do not think it’s too much to ask a person to work, train, go to school or volunteer to receive a government benefit.” The other bill that cleared the House after a prolonged debate would relax state restrictions on child labor. It would remove the cap on the number of hours older teens can work on school nights. The bill also would bar Kentucky’s top labor officials from setting child labor standards that exceed minimum federal protections. Republican Rep. Phillip Pratt, the bill’s lead sponsor, touted the life lessons teens can learn from holding down a job — from learning the value of money to the importance of taking personal responsibility. “For everyone on the other side of this bill, you’re standing in the way of these lessons,” he said. Opponents of HB255 warned that school work would suffer if teens take on longer work weeks. Employers will take advantage of the relaxed restrictions to pile more hours onto young workers, especially teens who help their families cover living expenses, said Democratic Rep. Josie Raymond. “There are no teenagers who are saying, ‘Ah, man I can only work 40 hours a week right now. But if the legislature would just make it unlimited, then I’ll go to work 50 hours right away,’” she said. As lawmakers wrapped up debating the food stamp bill, Republican Rep. Samara Heavrin said the measure offered an answer to a question she frequently hears from constituents back home. “I have people stop me if I’m at Wal-Mart or the Dollar General or anywhere, to be honest, saying: ‘What are you doing in Frankfort to get people back to work?’” she said. Democratic Rep. Rachel Roberts had a starkly different assessment, saying the House had just layered “cruel bills on top of one another.” She noted the irony that the vote on the food stamp bill followed the debate over relaxing labor rules for teen workers. “I suppose the timing of these two bills — back to back — is that the solution for how we’re going to feed these hungry families is more kids are going to work to earn for their families?” she said.

Federal judge torches Biden admin for ‘colluding’ with left-wing immigration group on asylum rule: ‘Frenemies’

A judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, in an extraordinary dissent to a motion related to the Biden administration’s rule limiting asylum, scorched the administration for what he called “collusion” with an immigration activist group to put the rule on ice. The case involves the Biden administration’s “Circumvention of Lawful Pathways” rule, which the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced last year as Title 42 ended. The rule limits asylum claims, barring those who have crossed illegally and failed to claim asylum in a country through which they have already traveled.  The administration said it was a key part of its efforts to control the crisis at the border, but it was soon blocked by a lawsuit by a liberal activist group. The administration then appealed that decision. However, both sides filed an appeal to put it into abeyance pending discussions of a settlement.  7.2M ENTERED THE US UNDER BIDEN ADMIN, AN AMOUNT GREATER THAN POPULATION OF 36 STATES The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal panel agreed, but Judge Lawrence VanDyke, a former President Trump appointee, dissented from the decision and tore into the administration’s decision to seek a settlement. “For months, the rule was so important that ‘any interruption’ in its implementation, even for a short period of time, would incapacitate the executive’s border response. This panel made decisions based on those representations. Now, the government implies the rule isn’t so important after all. Indeed, the government is now ‘engaged in discussions’ that could result in the rule going away. What?” He said that the move from the Biden administration makes no sense as a legal move and suspects that politics are at play. “At the very least it looks like the administration and its frenemies on the other side of this case are colluding to avoid playing their politically fraught game during an election year,” he said. He said that the administration looks like it is “snatching defeat from the jaws of victory — purposely avoiding an ultimate win that would eventually come later this year, whether from this court or from the Supreme Court.” He also said that the government had given no indication of when the settlement abeyance would end, guessing that sometime after November might eventually be the plan. He also suggested that the government may be trying to avoid an immigration loss in the courts amid ongoing concerns across the country about the border crisis. “Placing these proceedings in abeyance avoids the possibility of a loss before the Ninth Circuit that could potentially exacerbate the issues at the border in the months leading up to the election — a loss made even more damaging given that it would be meted out by a panel comprised primarily of Democratic appointees, no less,” he said.  BIDEN ADMIN WEIGHS EXECUTIVE ACTION ON BORDER CRISIS, DRAWING FIRE FROM LEFT AND RIGHT  “The CNN headline practically writes itself: ‘Biden Immigration Enforcement Policy Struck Down by Two Clinton Appointees,’” he quipped. He also floated the idea that the administration “may be seeking to create policy that resonates with its base while blaming the practical results of that policy on the courts.” “Up until now, we have been repeatedly assured that the rule is critical to the security of the border. But now, astoundingly, the government seeks to abandon its defense of the rule — or at least put that defense on ice until a more politically convenient time,” he said. “Whatever the parties’ real motivations are for seeking to stay this case, they haven’t provided us with a legally sufficient basis for their sudden change of course.” The criticisms by Judge VanDyke could resurface in the coming weeks. The Biden administration is believed to be considering additional executive action, including an aggressive use of section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to stop illegal immigrants coming across the border. However, former President Trump attempted to use such a measure in 2018 and was blocked by the courts, a fate that could befall President Biden if he attempts a similar move in 2024.  Fox News Digital has reached out to DHS, the Justice Department and East Bay, the immigration group, for comment.

What Black History Month means for those on the front lines of activism

What does Black History Month mean for those on the front lines of activism and organising?   From the struggles of the civil rights movement to the present day, African Americans have been pivotal in advocating for justice and equality in the face of systemic racism. Throughout history, they have confronted racial inequality, police brutality and the erasure of Black culture. In celebration of Black History Month, this episode spotlights the work of three Black activists who are shaping their communities through poetry, education and grassroots organising. What challenges do they face, and how are they contributing to the ongoing struggle for equality and the resilience of Black communities? Presenter: Anelise Borges Guests:Ericka Hart – host, Hoodrat to Headwrap podcastAbbas Muntaqim – co-host, Hella Black podcastAja Monet – poet Adblock test (Why?)

Odysseus completes first US moon landing in 50 years: How did it unfold?

The Odysseus lunar lander has made the first United States landing on the moon in more than 50 years, in what has been described as similar to a “cargo mission”. The moment marks the first successful landing of a commercial spacecraft on the moon, following an unsuccessful US lunar lander mission last month. Here is what we know about the moon landing and Odysseus: What’s the Odysseus moon lander? Odysseus is the first craft launched from the US to land on the moon’s surface since the Apollo 17 in 1972. Odysseus, also known as “Odie”, is a type of lunar lander designed by Intuitive Machines, a commercial lunar missions group which has the goal of delivering small “payloads” to the surface of the moon. For this mission, during which the environment at one of the moon’s poles will be investigated, NASA paid Intuitive Machines $118m under a programme known as Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS). According to EVONA, a space industry recruiter, “a payload is the part of a spacecraft that is responsible for achieving the mission’s primary objectives … [they] can be scientific instruments, communication equipment, or any other specialised equipment that is needed for the mission”. This model of lunar lander is called a Nova-C. Intuitive Machines reportedly described it as roughly the size of a British telephone booth with legs attached. According to NASA, it’s a hexagonal cylinder with dimensions of 4.0 metres tall and 1.57 metres wide. The lander is equipped with five NASA payloads and one commercial one – a total of 100kg. NASA’s cargo comprises exploration and other equipment. “The NASA payloads will focus on demonstrating communication, navigation and precision landing technologies, and gathering scientific data about rocket plume and lunar surface interactions, as well as space weather and lunar surface interactions affecting radio astronomy,” the space agency said in a statement. The Nova-C lunar lander designed by aerospace company Intuitive Machines is displayed at the company’s headquarters in Houston [File: Evan Garcia/Reuters] According to Joel Kearns, the deputy associate administrator for exploration in NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, this is similar to a cargo mission. “NASA pays a company to take our equipment, our science, to the moon all the way down to the surface and get our data back,” Kearns told Al Jazeera. “But this is the company’s mission, they go off and make their lander, they buy a rocket, they design their mission, they get all their communications set up, we are just a paying cargo customer, just as if we were shipping a parcel to somebody’s house,” he added. Art and technology are also on board. Among the items is a box from American artist Jeff Koons which contains 125 small stainless steel balls to represent the moon’s different phases through a month. The artwork is associated with individuals who have made important accomplishments in history. “In this way, Koons honours some of the greatest achievements of the past to inspire future generations,” Intuitive Machines said. We’ve landed! Congratulations to Intuitive Machines & SpaceX for their astounding achievement of realizing this historic private mission to the Moon! I’m so honored to have my Moon Phases artworks be part of the Odysseus mission! @Int_Machines @SpaceX @NASA #jeffkoons #moonphase pic.twitter.com/yQq80zgdck — Jeff Koons (@JeffKoons) February 23, 2024 At what time was the moon landing? Odysseus landed at 6:23pm EST (23:23GMT) on Thursday. It was launched by SpaceX from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on February 15, using a Falcon 9 rocket launcher. Falcon 9 propelled the lander into Earth’s orbit, reaching speeds of more than 40,000km per hour. Once the rocket depleted its fuel 48 minutes about 223km (139 miles) above the Earth, it separated from Odie, leaving the lunar lander to navigate independently through space. The lander used an on board stellar map to establish its orientation in space, aligning its solar panels with the sun’s rays to recharge its batteries. If its mission doesn’t face any setbacks, the hexagonal solar-powered lander will spend seven days operating on the moon, working until the sun sets each lunar day. When the lunar night sets in, the lander will enter sleep mode. Your order was delivered… to the Moon! 📦@Int_Machines‘ uncrewed lunar lander landed at 6:23pm ET (2323 UTC), bringing NASA science to the Moon’s surface. These instruments will prepare us for future human exploration of the Moon under #Artemis. pic.twitter.com/sS0poiWxrU — NASA (@NASA) February 22, 2024 How did the moon landing unfold? After a journey of roughly 400,000km (250,000 miles), the lander began a 73-minute descent down to the surface of the moon on Thursday. Intuitive Machines CEO Stephen Altemus said at the start of the mission that the spacecraft had about an 80 percent chance of success. During the mission, controllers faced a potentially mission-halting technical issue. In the few hours before the landing, the craft’s laser navigation system failed, according to The Associated Press. The Intuitive Machines’ flight control team had to rely on an experimental NASA laser system that was on board instead – the Navigation Doppler Lidar. The lander had to make an extra lap around the moon to allow time for the last-minute switch. “We put the Navigation Doppler Lidar … as a tech demo and as a test, we weren’t planning to use it for the actual mission … but now we are. So, basically, it is the primary system to help provide the velocity and altitude information,” NASA’s Space Tech mission directorate deputy associate administrator Prasun Desai said. “We put the [Navigation Doppler Lidar for Precise Velocity and Range Sensing] as a tech demo and as a test, we weren’t planning to use it… for the actual mission… but now we are. So, basically, it is the primary system to help provide the velocity and altitude information.” —… pic.twitter.com/yLl4YuhBTC — NASA Technology (@NASA_Technology) February 22, 2024 Following the successful landing by Odysseus, however, initially there was no signal from the moon lander. As the minutes passed, there were initial concerns about the lander’s status