Intuitive Machines is anticipated to launch its second lunar lander this week

Intuitive Machines, the corporate that pulled off the this time final yr with its Odysseus spacecraft, is gearing up for one more shot at touching the lunar floor. Its second flight (CLPS) program is scheduled to take off no sooner than Wednesday February 26, launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The corporate is as soon as once more sending one among its Nova-C landers, this one nicknamed Athena. It’s anticipated to take a few week for Athena to journey to the moon, earlier than it makes a touchdown try round March 6.

To the Moon! On Feb. 26, NASA science and tech are set to launch on @Int_Machines’ Nova-C lander, Athena. Watch reside protection of our second lunar mission with Intuitive Machines right here on X. https://t.co/57Ug6tHsGd pic.twitter.com/MfsBQkh7Xn

— NASA (@NASA) February 21, 2025

Athena is carrying NASA devices together with a drill and mass spectrometer, which can be used to try “one of many first on-site demonstrations of useful resource use on the moon,” in response to the area company. These instruments will measure volatiles within the soil on the touchdown website within the lunar South Pole. The mission additionally gives Intuitive Machines one other probability at touchdown its spacecraft with all six ft on the bottom. Odysseus, although profitable in touching down on the floor, .

This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/area/intuitive-machines-is-expected-to-launch-its-second-lunar-lander-this-week-174703197.html?src=rss

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