Intuitive Machines Aims High with Second Lunar Lander Launch on February 26

image credit: intuitive machine

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida — February 26, 2025 — Today, Intuitive Machines, a Houston-based space exploration company, is set to make history once again as it prepares to launch its second lunar lander, named Athena, to the moon. The mission, dubbed IM-2, will lift off atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at 7:17 p.m. EST (0017 GMT on February 27), marking a bold step forward in commercial space exploration and NASA’s ambitious Artemis program.

The launch comes just over a year after Intuitive Machines achieved a groundbreaking milestone with its IM-1 mission, when its Odysseus lander became the first privately-built spacecraft to soft-land on the lunar surface since the Apollo era. Despite a challenging touchdown that left Odysseus tilted on its side, the mission delivered valuable data and lessons that have fueled the company’s determination to perfect this next attempt. With Athena, Intuitive Machines is shooting for the moon—literally and figuratively—aiming for a smoother landing and an even greater scientific payoff.

A Mission Packed with Innovation

The Athena lander is loaded with a diverse array of scientific instruments and technology demonstrations, primarily under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, which partners with private companies to accelerate lunar exploration. Among the payloads is the PRIME-1 experiment, featuring a drill and mass spectrometer designed to probe beneath the lunar surface near the moon’s south pole. This will be one of the first on-site attempts to measure the presence of water ice and other volatiles—resources that could be crucial for sustaining future human missions.

Adding to the mission’s excitement, Athena will deploy a small hopping robot called Grace, named after computing pioneer Grace Hopper. This suitcase-sized drone will perform a series of leaps across the lunar terrain, including a daring dive into a permanently shadowed crater. These dark, frigid regions, which can reach temperatures as low as -170°C (-274°F), are believed to harbor ice deposits. Grace will spend about 45 minutes scanning the crater floor before hopping back out, potentially providing NASA with its first close-up look at these elusive lunar features.

The lander will also carry a 4G/LTE communications network developed by Nokia, a first for the lunar surface. This system will link Athena with a rover from Lunar Outpost and the Grace hopper, testing high-speed data relay capabilities that could pave the way for future lunar infrastructure. Other notable payloads include a data storage experiment from Lonestar Data Holdings and a Laser Retroreflector Array to serve as a permanent navigation marker for future missions.

A Collaborative Leap Forward

The IM-2 mission isn’t traveling alone. Riding along on the Falcon 9 is NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer satellite, which will enter lunar orbit to map water distribution across the moon’s surface. Together, these efforts underscore NASA’s strategy to build a robust lunar presence through public-private partnerships, preparing the groundwork for the Artemis program’s goal of returning astronauts to the moon by 2027.

“This mission is about more than just reaching the moon—it’s about building the tools and knowledge we need for a sustainable future there,” said Trent Martin, Senior Vice President of Space Systems at Intuitive Machines, during a pre-launch briefing. “Every hop, every drill sample, every signal we send back brings us closer to that vision.”

Lessons from Odysseus

The IM-1 mission in February 2024 taught Intuitive Machines valuable lessons about the challenges of lunar landings. While Odysseus successfully touched down near the Malapert A crater, it snagged a leg on the surface and tipped over, limiting some of its operations. This time, the company has refined its approach, incorporating improved navigation and landing systems to ensure Athena sticks the landing near Mons Mouton, a flat plateau close to the lunar south pole.

“We’ve taken everything we learned from Odysseus and poured it into Athena,” said Steve Altemus, CEO of Intuitive Machines. “This isn’t just a second shot—it’s a chance to show the world what commercial space can achieve when we push the boundaries of what’s possible.”

A Lunar Economy in the Making

NASA’s CLPS program is designed to spark a lunar economy by providing a steady demand for delivery services, encouraging companies like Intuitive Machines to innovate. With Athena, the agency is testing technologies that could support future crewed missions, from resource extraction to reliable communications. The mission also reflects a broader shift in space exploration, where private companies are increasingly taking the lead, supported by government contracts.

If successful, Athena is expected to operate for about 10 days on the lunar surface before the onset of the lunar night, when its solar panels will no longer generate power. That brief window will be packed with activity, as Grace hops, drills dig, and data streams back to Earth.

How to Watch

Space enthusiasts can catch the launch live through NASA’s streaming platforms or SpaceX’s broadcast, with coverage beginning ahead of the 7:17 p.m. EST liftoff. Weather permitting, the Falcon 9’s ascent will light up the Florida sky, carrying Athena on its week-long journey to the moon. A landing attempt is slated for around March 6, promising another nail-biting moment for the Intuitive Machines team and lunar watchers worldwide.

As the countdown ticks down, all eyes are on Intuitive Machines and NASA, proving once again that when it comes to the moon, the sky—or rather, the lack thereof—is no limit at all.