Moon-Bound Nova-C Commercial Lunar Lander Successfully Launches

Following liftoff, NASA confirmed the spacecraft was stable and receiving solar power.

Thursday, February 15, 2024 at 04:00 PM ET

Verified

The IM-1 mission launches from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 1:05 a.m. EST Thursday. [Courtesy: SpaceX]

Key Takeaways:

Intuitive Machines' IM-1 mission successfully launched on SpaceX's Falcon 9, marking the first U.S. attempt at a lunar landing in over 50 years.
The Nova-C lander, Odysseus, is carrying six NASA payloads to the moon's South Pole for research on the lunar environment as part of the CLPS initiative and Artemis campaign.
Following a launch delay, the spacecraft is stable and communicating, with a lunar landing expected on February 22, aiming to re-establish U.S. presence on the moon after 52 years and a recent commercial mission failure.

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The Intuitive Machines’ IM-1 mission successfully launched on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket early Thursday, putting the Houston-based aerospace company on track for the first U.S. lunar landing in more than 50 years.

Following a launch delay earlier in the week due to a technical issue, the robotic Nova-C class lunar lander lifted off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 1:05 a.m. EST.