Intuitive Machines IM-2 mission launches from Kennedy Space Center to lunar south pole
The Falcon 9 rocket turned twilight into day as it leaped off the launch pad — its payload destined for the moon on a mission that will search for the right ingredients for future human explorers.
The Intuitive Machines IM-2 mission, the second lunar lander by the company, lifted off right on time at 7:16 p.m. EST Wednesday from Kennedy Space Center Pad 39A.
"It kinda feels like this mission is right out of one of our favorite sci-fi movies," Nicky Fox, associate administrator of the NASA's Science Mission Directorate, said during a prelaunch briefing. "We're looking to show that we can find what resources already exist on the moon for a sustained human presence. And specifically, we're looking for water and other volatiles."
A little more than three hours after the IM-2 liftoff, a second SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched at 10:34 p.m. from adjacent Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This Starlink mission, which lifted 21 internet-beaming satellites into low-Earth orbit, completed Wednesday night's launch doubleheader.
According to NASA, the experiments the Intuitive Machines lunar lander, named Athena, will conduct will play a key role in the return of astronauts to the moon, and eventually Mars. And the pressure is building for the United States to get back to the moon ahead of China.
But it's still unclear whether an American return to the moon will happen as just last week the Department of Government Efficiency's Elon Musk called for NASA to focus its attention towards Mars. However, NASA and many in the science community view the moon as a launching point in sending humanity to Mars — and IM-2 just may prove this to be true.
When IM-2 lands on Mons Mouton on the moon's south pole on March 6, IM-2 will be the closest landing to the moon's south pole date, at 50% closer than IM-1, the first lander launched under this NASA program. That lander, named Odysseus, launched a year ago but tipped over after landing.
That area of the moon is very cold and contains volatiles, or materials which can quickly change from liquid to solid to gas. It is believed within the moon's regolith − or surface material − water ice is trapped, as well as early particles from the moon formation.
What's flying on IM-2
The main experiment onboard is NASA's PRIME-1 (Polar Resources Ice Mining Experiment-1) drill. The drill and a mass spectrometer will be used to search for those volatiles suspected to be in lunar regolith.
This should not only help to understand the origins of solar system, but how to utilize in-situ resources. In-situ refers to utilizing material on other celestial bodies to support human life. One example is harvesting elements for drinking water and breathable oxygen for astronauts on a moon base.
Joel Kearns, deputy associate administrator for exploration at NASA's Science Mission Directorate, told FLORIDA TODAY that the CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Service) missions are designed to do science on or around the moon to prepare to send astronauts — or to gather data from places astronauts would be unable to go.
“On this mission, on IM-2, we’re going to test the equivalent of cell phone and wireless communication, robotically, so that we know specifically at the south pole that it works, because we would like our astronauts to be able to walk far from their landers to go pick up scientific samples or takes photos – things like that,” said Joel Kearns,
Also onboard Athena is a small hopper named Grace. Martin told FLORIDA TODAY the hopper is named for the belated Grace Hopper, a U.S. Navy admiral, computer programmer and software engineer.
Grace has a propulsion system which will allow it to easily and quickly navigate around the moon's tricky surface, giving it the ability to reach areas that otherwise would be difficult to access.
There are many other experiments onboard, including from Florida-based company, LoneStar, which is working to provide a data system for the moon. Flexential is also working alongside LoneStar to provide backup to the data collected.
Intuitive Machines will continue partnering with Columbia sportswear. This will be the second time a Columbia thermal blanket will have been flown to the moon. The first being on IM-1 last year.
There is also a rover named Yaoki from private Japanese space company, Dymon.
Intuitive Machines ride share
Buying the entire Falcon 9 mission, Intuitive Machines had more space than needed – so the company offered a ride share service. This gave private companies a chance to launch their payloads more affordably.
A mission to an asteroid by company AstroForge, as well as Epic Aerospace's Chimera, which includes 16 satellites bound for orbit, were also riding along during launch. They will go on their separate ways once the Falcon 9 rocket gets the payloads to space.
Lunar Trailblazer headed to lunar orbit
Also launched on this mission was the Lunar Trailblazer, which will map the surface of the moon for possible water ice.
Built by Lockheed Martin for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Lunar Trailblazer will separate from the launch vehicle after launch.
It will take four months to get into an orbit around the moon, as it is using gravity assist from the Earth, Sun, and moon to navigate it into its science orbit. This allows Lunar Trailblazer to save on fuel.
When will Intuitive Machines IM-2 land on the moon?
The IM-2 lander, Athena, is scheduled to land on the moon’s south pole on March 6, in an area known as Mons Mouton. Mons Mouton is a lunar mountain named in honor of NASA mathematician and computer programmer, Melba Roy Mouton.
Many recall last February when Intuitive Machines IM-1, Odysseus, launched to the moon from Kennedy Space Center and tipped over.
“We know exactly what happened last time. We fixed those things. We are very confident that we fixed the issues that caused us to land hard, which caused the gear to fall off, which caused us to tip over,” said Intuitive Machines’ Senior Vice President for Space Systems, Trent Martin.
“Spaceflight is hard, and you’re going to learn something every time you do it. This is only the second time we’ve done it,” Martin said.
Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@floridatoday.com or on X: @brookeofstars