The Intuitive Machines IM-2 mission, successfully launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 on February 27, is set to make history with its ambitious lunar exploration at the Moon’s south pole.
Key Highlights:
- Lander Name: Athena (Stands 15 feet (4.7 meters) tall)
- Launch Site: NASA’s Kennedy Space Center
- Landing Date: March 6, 2025
- Landing Site: 100 miles (160 km) from the lunar south pole
- Mission Objective: To explore permanently shadowed craters for scientific discoveries
The Drone “Grace” – A Lunar Hopper
- Named After: Grace Hopper, computing pioneer
- Size: 3 feet (1 meter) in diameter
- Powered By: Hydrazine-fueled thrusters
- Navigation: Cameras & lasers for autonomous flight
- Planned Hops: Three increasingly higher & longer test hops
- Destination: A jet-black crater that never sees sunlight
Why Is This Mission Important?
- South Pole Exploration: Key to discovering water ice for future lunar missions
- Lunar Drone Technology: Testing innovative hopping mobility for exploring deep craters
- Paving the Way for Artemis Missions: Supports NASA’s long-term lunar exploration goals
