
The Intuitive Machines Odysseus Moon lander.. IM-1 mission is targeting Malapert-A crater near the Moon’s south pole.
Image credit: Intuitive Machines
Intuitive Machines is nearing launch of the company’s Nova-C class lunar lander, named Odysseus, via a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
This Intuitive Machines (IM-1) launch was selected through NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative in which NASA contracts with a commercial partner.
Given successful launch (possibly on Feb. 14 – Valentine’s Day), in-space operations, and Earth-to-Moon transfer maneuvers, Odysseus is to land near crater Malapert A near the south pole of the Moon.
Science objectives
The commercially built lander will carry five NASA payloads and commercial cargo.
As for the scientific objectives of the mission, they include studies of the lander’s plume-surface interactions, radio astronomy, and space weather interactions with the lunar surface.
Odysseus will also demonstrate precision landing technologies and communication and navigation node capabilities.
This Intuitive Machines lander is capable of operating for about 14 Earth days in lunar sunlight.
For more details, go to:
“Next Private Moon Lander Attempt to Fly in February” at:
https://www.leonarddavid.com/next-private-moon-lander-attempt-to-fly-in-february/