IM-1 Mission Nova-C Lunar Lander Successfully Enroute to the Moon

IM-1 Mission Nova-C Lunar Lander Successfully Enroute to the Moon

Houston, TX - February 15, 2024
In a historic leap towards lunar exploration, Intuitive Machines, a prominent space exploration company, has triumphantly launched its IM-1 mission Nova-C class lunar lander aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. The event unfolded at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 1:05 a.m on Thursday, February 15, 2024.

Within 48 minutes of liftoff, the IM-1 mission achieved its intended orbit and established initial contact with the lunar lander at 1:59 a.m. The company proudly confirmed that the spacecraft has successfully commissioned in space, achieving a stable attitude, solar charging, and radio communications with the mission operations center in Houston.

Steve Altemus, CEO of Intuitive Machines, expressed the company's awareness of the challenges ahead. "We are keenly aware of the immense challenges that lie ahead," Altemus stated. "However, it is precisely in facing these challenges head-on that we recognize the magnitude of the opportunity before us: to softly return the United States to the surface of the Moon for the first time in 52 years."

This groundbreaking mission marks Intuitive Machines' inaugural lunar landing attempt, aligning with NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative. A crucial component of NASA's Artemis lunar exploration efforts, Commercial Lunar Payload Services aims to lay the foundation for future human missions and a sustainable human presence on the Moon.

As a diversified space company, Intuitive Machines focuses on space exploration, providing a range of products and services to support sustained robotic and human exploration to destinations like the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The company's offerings span across Lunar Access Services, Orbital Services, Lunar Data Services, and Space Products and Infrastructure. The successful launch of the IM-1 mission reinforces their commitment to advancing space exploration capabilities.