Athena Lunar Lander Earth Views | IM-2 Moon Mission | Intuitive Machines

Athena Lunar Lander Earth Views | IM-2 Moon Mission | Intuitive Machines

Athena sent the first IM-2 images from space shortly after liftoff from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida while traveling approximately 24,000 miles per hour.  

Athena used four super-wide field of view public affairs cameras to take pictures every minute for 30 minutes starting 100 seconds after separating from SpaceX’s second stage. Then, Athena took photos every 5 minutes for the next hour.  

Follow along for mission updates: https://bit.ly/3F0yRu9

The Intuitive Machines IM-2 mission lunar lander, named Athena, is carrying PRIME-1 and other NASA technology demonstrations and science investigations. Athena’s mission is designed to validate resource prospecting, mobility, and communications infrastructure in the Moon’s Mons Mouton region, one of nine potential Artemis III landing sites.

Commanded using Intuitive Machines’ commercial Lunar Data Network, IM-2 will be the Company’s second of four manifested lunar missions as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (“CLPS”) initiative. Through the CLPS initiative and Artemis campaign, NASA is leveraging American companies to send scientific instruments and technology demonstrations to the Moon, advancing our understanding of the Moon and planetary processes, while paving the way for future crewed missions. 

Learn more about NASA's CLPS Program:
https://www.nasa.gov/content/commercial-lunar-payload-services

Video Credit: Intuitive Machines
Duration: 2 minutes, 34 seconds
Release Date: Feb. 28, 2025

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