IM-1 Private Lunar Lander Mission Transmits First Space Images

Intuitive Machines' Odysseus moon lander is in ‘excellent health’ and on track to be inserted into lunar orbit this week, the company said.

Kimberly Johnson

Monday, February 19, 2024 at 12:25 PM ET

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Intuitive Machines captures the first IM-1 Mission images in space. [Courtesy: Intuitive Machines]

Key Takeaways:

Intuitive Machines' Nova-C lunar lander, *Odysseus*, is in "excellent health" and on track for lunar orbit insertion this Wednesday, with a landing opportunity expected Thursday.
The IM-1 mission, which launched last Thursday, aims to be the first U.S. moon landing in over 50 years, contributing to NASA's commercial lunar payload services (CLPS) and Artemis campaign.
Intuitive Machines released the first images from the mission, captured by *Odysseus* showing Earth in the background during its journey toward the moon.

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Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C robotic lunar lander Odysseus is in “excellent health” and on track to be inserted into lunar orbit this week, the Houston-based aerospace company said Sunday.

The update comes three days after Intuitive Machines’ IM-1 mission successfully launched on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida early Thursday, putting the Odysseus private lunar lander on track to becoming the first U.S. moon landing in more than 50 years. The IM-1 mission is headed to the South Pole region of the moon as part of NASA’s commercial lunar payload services (CLPS) initiative and Artemis campaign.