NASA is set to launch its Intuitive Machines IM-2 mission as part of the agency’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative and Artemis campaign. The mission, targeted for February 26, will lift off on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The IM-2 mission will spend approximately one week in transit to the Moon before landing on its lunar surface no earlier than March 6. During this time, the lander, Athena, will carry NASA science investigations and technology demonstrations to further our understanding of the Moon’s environment.
One of the primary objectives of the mission is to demonstrate resource use on the Moon, including a drill and mass spectrometer that will measure the presence of volatiles or gases from lunar soil in Mons Mouton. Additionally, a passive Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA) on the top deck of the lander will provide a permanent reference point for future spacecraft.
The IM-2 mission will also launch as a rideshare with NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer spacecraft, which will map the distribution of water forms on the Moon. The deadline has passed for media accreditation for in-person coverage of this launch.
Live launch coverage will air on NASA+ and can be accessed through various platforms, including social media using the hashtag #Artemis.
Source: https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-sets-coverage-for-intuitive-machines-next-commercial-moon-launch