Houston-based Intuitive Machines is on the brink of making space history with a planned lunar landing of its spacecraft, Odysseus, set for the end of February. This ambitious endeavor aims to mark the first successful commercial moon landing, following Astrobotic’s unsuccessful attempt earlier this year.
Odysseus, a Nova-C class lander, is slated to depart Earth between February 14 and February 16, with the launch window opening at 12:57AM (ET) on Wednesday. The lander is scheduled to touch down near the moon’s south pole, targeting the Malapert A crater.
The IM-1 mission, as it’s known, is part of Intuitive Machines’ broader plan to send three Nova-C landers to the moon in 2024. Each lander will deliver commercial payloads and NASA instruments as part of the agency’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. Standing at 14 feet tall, Odysseus is capable of carrying approximately 280 pounds of cargo.
The mission’s success hinges on executing a soft landing, which would support future lunar exploration, including NASA’s Artemis missions. “As we continue to push new frontiers and do the unimaginable, NASA’s scientists and engineers are constantly innovating and advancing technologies,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, highlighting the significance of transferring these technological advances to companies and entrepreneurs.
Odysseus will operate on solar power, with its functionality expected to last about a week before succumbing to the lunar night. During this period, it will collect data using various instruments, including six from NASA. Notably, the Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA) will act as a permanent marker on the moon’s surface, aiding spacecraft in measuring their distance from the lunar terrain.
The lander’s cargo features commercial items as well, such as Columbia Sportswear’s thermal reflective material, designed to protect the propulsion tank, and a camera system developed by students at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. This system, EagleCam, intends to capture the landing from a third-person perspective.
Adding to the mission’s unique cargo are Jeff Koons’ sculptures and “Lunagrams” from Galactic Legacy Labs, which carry messages from Earth. Intuitive Machines is also demonstrating its Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) by transmitting data, including significant historical documents, between Earth and the moon.
With the stakes high after recent lunar mission setbacks, Intuitive Machines’ Odysseus Nova-C lander carries the weight of commercial space aspirations on its journey to the moon. If successful, this mission will cement its place in history as the first commercial lunar landing.
