NASA is set to partner with private company Intuitive Machines as their Nova-C lunar lander, carrying cutting-edge technologies, lands on the Moon. The mission, scheduled for 12:32 p.m. EST on March 6, aims to demonstrate technology and science investigations in support of NASA’s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative and Artemis campaign.
The Intuitive Machines IM-2 mission will focus on testing a range of technologies, including a robust cellular network for future astronauts’ communication, a propulsive drone for navigating lunar terrain, and a passive Laser Retroreflector Array to provide a permanent reference point. The lander is also carrying NASA technology to measure the potential presence of resources in lunar soil that can be extracted for fuel or breathable oxygen.
The mission marks the second attempt by Intuitive Machines after their IM-1 mission failed due to a parachute malfunction. This time, the company’s Nova-C lander is set to land on Mons Mouton, a lunar plateau near the Moon’s South Pole.
Following the successful landing, NASA and Intuitive Machines will host a news conference from the Johnson Space Center in Houston to discuss the mission’s objectives and outcomes. The public can watch live coverage of the landing on NASA+ starting at 11:30 a.m., and participate in the news conference via phone or in person by requesting accreditation.
As part of NASA’s CLPS initiative, Intuitive Machines is one of several American companies working towards delivering technology and science to the lunar surface. The company has been awarded a contract worth $62.5 million for approximately 12 missions through 2028.
Source: https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-sets-coverage-for-intuitive-machines-second-private-moon-landing