Intuitive Machines says their Nova-C lunar lander is slated to land in Mons Mouton, a lunar plateau near the Moon’s South Pole, no earlier than 04.32 a.m. (AEDT) on March 7, 2025.
The lander is carrying NASA technology demonstrations and science investigations as part of the agency’s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative and Artemis campaign to establish a long-term lunar presence.
The Intuitive Machines 2 (IM-2) mission launched on February 27 onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center. The NASA payload will measure the potential presence of resources from lunar soil that could be extracted and used by future explorers to produce fuel or breathable oxygen.
In addition, a passive laser retroreflector array on the top deck of the lander will bounce laser light back at any orbiting or incoming spacecraft to give future spacecraft a permanent reference point on the lunar surface. Other technologies on this delivery will demonstrate a robust cellular network to help future astronauts communicate and deploy a propulsive drone that can hop across the lunar surface to navigate its challenging terrain.
NASA says it continues to work with multiple American companies to deliver technology and science to the lunar surface through its CLPS initiative. This pool of companies may bid on contracts for end-to-end lunar delivery services, including payload integration and operations, launching from Earth, and landing on the surface of the Moon.
NASA’s CLPS contracts are indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts with a cumulative maximum value of USD2.6 billion through 2028. The agency awarded Intuitive Machines the contract to send NASA science investigations and technology demonstrations to the Moon using its American-designed and -manufactured lunar lander for approximately USD62.5 million.
Through the Artemis campaign, commercial robotic deliveries will test technologies, perform science experiments, and demonstrate capabilities on and around the Moon to help NASA explore in advance of Artemis Generation astronaut missions to the lunar surface and ultimately crewed missions to Mars.
Live landing coverage of the Intuitive Machines 2 landing, hosted by NASA and Intuitive Machines on NASA+, will start approximately 60 minutes before touchdown. Beginning at 3 a.m. (AEDT) the agency will share blog updates as landing milestones occur.
