ARTIST’S RENDERING of the lunar lander on the moon’s surface (Intuitive Machines image).

For the first time in over a half-century, an American spacecraft has landed on the moon. The lunar lander, named Odysseus, touched down safety on Thursday, but is reported to be sending a weak signal back to Earth.

Intuitive Machines, maker of the spacecraft, has now become the first private business to safely land a space-traveling vehicle on the moon.

The company is working to boost the signal from the lunar surface. Odysseus is about 14 feet tall and is carrying six experiments for NASA, which paid the firm $118 million.

The last landing on the moon by the U.S. was in 1972.

No pause in paying Trump fraud penalty

DONALD TRUMP (NBC Photo).

Former president Donald Trump and the Trump Organization must begin paying the $335 million in penalties and $100 million in interest that a judge imposed in connection with a civil fraud trial for making false financial statements and inflating asset value.

Judge Arthur Engoran declined a request by Trump lawyers for a delay in enforcement, stating in an e-mail that they “have failed to explain, much less justify, any basis for a stay.”

Trump has been banned from conducting real estate business in New York for three years.

Bad day for LA; Lakers, Clips, Kings lose

Thursday was a rough day for Los Angeles pro sports teams.

In NBA action, the Los Angeles Lakers lost 126-110 to the Golden State Warriors, The Los Angeles Clippers lost to the Oklahoma Thunder by 129-107,

In the NHL, the Los Angeles Kings lost 4-1 to the Nashville Predators.

Weather:  Clouds, then showers

In our West Orange County area, we’re not quite done with winter-y weather. Friday’s forecast calls for morning clouds and afternoon sun with a daytime high of 75 and a nighttime low of 54. Cloudy conditions will move in on Saturday and Sunday with highs ranging from 71 to 68 and lows from 52 to 53. Showers are expected on Monday with a high of 64 (59).