Photo credit: www.nasa.gov

Intuitive Machines Targets Moon Landing with NASA Technology

Intuitive Machines is preparing for a significant milestone with its upcoming Moon landing, scheduled for no earlier than 12:32 p.m. EST on Thursday, March 6. The company’s Nova-C lunar lander is set to touchdown in Mons Mouton, a lunar plateau located near the Moon’s South Pole. This mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative and the broader Artemis campaign aimed at fostering a sustained human presence on the Moon.

Live coverage of the anticipated landing, known as Intuitive Machines 2 (IM-2), will be available on NASA+ starting no earlier than 11:30 a.m. This broadcast will begin approximately one hour before the scheduled landing. Additionally, NASA plans to provide blog updates at 11 a.m. as various milestones are achieved leading up to the event.

After the successful landing, officials from NASA and Intuitive Machines will convene a news conference at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The discussion will focus on the mission’s achievements, the technological innovations demonstrated, and the scientific opportunities that await as lunar operations commence.

U.S. media representatives wishing to attend the briefing in person must submit their accreditation requests by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5. These requests can be made by contacting the NASA Johnson newsroom. Journalists planning to call in for the news conference must also RSVP by the same deadline and dial in at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the event.

The detailed schedule for the IM-2 mission is as follows (all times are in Eastern Time):

Thursday, March 6

11:30 a.m. – Coverage begins on NASA+
12:32 p.m. – Lander touchdown
4 p.m. – News conference on NASA+

Participants in the news conference will include:

• Nicky Fox, Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
• Clayton Turner, Associate Administrator, Space Technology Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
• Joel Kearns, Deputy Associate Administrator for Exploration, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
• Steve Altemus, CEO, Intuitive Machines
• Tim Crain, Chief Growth Officer, Intuitive Machines

The IM-2 mission successfully launched at 7:16 p.m. on February 26 via a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The lander is equipped with important technology aimed at assessing the potential for extracting resources from lunar soil, which could support future endeavors in producing fuel or breathable oxygen for explorers on the Moon.

Among the technologies being deployed, a passive Laser Retroreflector Array installed on the lander’s top deck will reflect laser signals from orbiting spacecraft, providing an ongoing reference point on the Moon’s surface. This mission also aims to showcase a resilient cellular network designed to facilitate astronaut communications and to introduce a propulsive drone capable of navigating the lunar terrain.

NASA is actively collaborating with a range of American companies as part of the CLPS initiative, which aims to deliver innovative technology and scientific payloads to the lunar surface. The contracts under this initiative are structured to allow companies to bid for comprehensive lunar delivery services, with a maximum cumulative value of $2.6 billion allocated through 2028. Intuitive Machines secured a crucial contract worth approximately $62.5 million for the mission, focusing on transporting NASA’s science and technology experiments to the lunar environment.

As part of the Artemis campaign, these commercial robotic deliveries will play a vital role in testing new technologies, executing scientific studies, and validating operational capabilities in preparation for future human missions to the lunar surface, and ultimately, to Mars.

For further information on how to access NASA’s diverse content and follow relevant events, visit: https://www.plus.nasa.gov

Stay connected with the mission through social media by using the hashtag #Artemis. Follow NASA on various platforms:

X: @NASA, @NASA_Johnson, @NASAArtemis, @NASAMoon, @NASA_Technology

Facebook: NASA, NASA Johnson Space Center, NASAArtemis, NASATechnology

Instagram: @NASA, @NASAJohnson, @NASAArtemis

For detailed insights into NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/clps

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Source
www.nasa.gov