Intuitive Machines’ IM-1 successfully lifts off for the Moon, know what are the Moon bound NASA science instruments and technologies aboard the IM-1 lander here
Intuitive Machines’ IM-1 Nova-C lander successfully lifted off to the Moon on February 15, 2024. The IM-1 took off at 1.05 a.m. EST on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The mission was earlier scheduled to be launched on 14 February 2024. However, it was delayed due to technical difficulties.
The IM-1 is expected to reach the lunar surface on February 22, 2024.
The IM-1 launch to the Moon successfully lifted off Feb. 15 on @SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. @Int_Machines’ Nova-C lander is expected to reach the lunar surface on Feb. 22: https://t.co/7Y8I2V9QSQ pic.twitter.com/EuOcLaPciV
— NASA (@NASA) February 15, 2024
The IM-1 is carrying a suite of NASA science instruments and technology demonstrations as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services. The mission will provide deeper insights into the Moon’s surface environment and pave the way for technologies to be tested for future Moon missions.
The NASA science that is on its way to the Moon aboard the Nova-C lander includes the following.
- Lunar Node 1 Navigation Demonstrator
- Lase Retroflector Array
- Navigation Doppler Lidar for Precise Velocity and Range Sensing
- Radio Frequency Mass Gauge
- Radio-wave Observations at the Lunar Surface of the Photoelectron Sheath
- Stereo Cameras for Lunar Plume-Surface Studies
You can learn more about these NASA science technologies here.
The NASA scientists who are on the way to the Moon as part of the IM-1 mission will gather various scientific data about the Moon for about seven days. This data will subsequently help scientists in developing the way for the first woman and the first person of color on a Moon mission under Artemis.
