NASA is preparing for the landing of its Athena moon lander on the lunar south pole on March 6. This mission will contribute to ongoing efforts by multiple space agencies, including India, to map the moon, search for water, and conduct scientific research.
Developed by Houston-based private company Intuitive Machines, Athena aims to land near Mons Mouton, a site distinct from ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 ‘Shiv Shakti’ touchdown location. Chandrayaan-3 made history in August 2023 when India became the first country to land on the moon’s south pole.
Athena was launched on February 26 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and entered lunar orbit earlier this week. According to Intuitive Machines, the landing attempt is scheduled for 11:32 a.m. EST (10 p.m. IST). As the lander orbits the moon, it has already sent back striking images of the lunar surface.
Intuitive Machines confirmed on March 5 that Athena remains in optimal condition in Low Lunar Orbit, completing 24 of its planned 39 orbits while awaiting optimal sunlight for its landing site. NASA intends to use this mission to explore water ice and other resources vital for long-term human presence on the moon.
Athena’s mission, designated IM-2, is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, which collaborates with private companies to deliver science and technology payloads to the lunar surface. This marks Intuitive Machines’ second lunar mission, following the successful landing of its Odysseus spacecraft in February 2024.
In a related development, Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission 1 recently landed on the moon’s near side, carrying NASA payloads. NASA officials emphasized that these missions lay the groundwork for future lunar exploration and sustained human presence on the moon.