Athena Lunar Lander: South Pole Moon Landing | IM-2 Mission Update

Athena Lunar Lander: South Pole Moon Landing | IM-2 Mission Update

View of Intuitive Machines' IM-2 Mission Athena lunar lander twenty kilometers above the Moon prior to its landing on March 6, 2025.

Intuitive Machines' IM-2 Mission Athena lunar lander intended trajectory

The landing zone is in the Moon’s Mons Mouton region for Intuitive Machines' IM-2 Mission Athena lunar lander

Intuitive Machines’ Athena lunar lander arrived at Mons Mouton, in the south pole region of the Moon, on March 6, 2025, at approximately 11:30 a.m. Central Standard Time (CST). The physical orientation of the Athena lander on the surface has yet to be confirmed, as well as its precise location. The lander is generating power from its solar panels and its telemetry antenna has been operating since landing, supporting continued communication with Intuitive Machines’ mission control center in Texas.

Stay tuned for IM-2 mission updates: 

https://bit.ly/3F0yRu9

The Athena lunar lander’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 crew landing sites.

The Intuitive Machines IM-2 mission 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

Image Credit: Intuitive Machines

Release Date: March 6, 2025

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