Intuitive Machines Prepares for Second Private Moon Landing with 'Athena'

The Nova-C lunar lander is set to touch down on Mons Mouton on March 6, aiming to expand lunar exploration capabilities.

Intuitive Machines' Athena lander, part of the IM-2 mission, is scheduled to land on the Moon's Mons Mouton plateau on March 6 at 12:32 p.m. EST.
This marks the company's second lunar landing attempt, following its historic success with Odysseus in 2024, which tipped over post-touchdown but still transmitted data.
The mission will test NASA-backed technologies, including a drill and mass spectrometer to detect potential resources like water ice in lunar soil, and a drone capable of navigating craters.
Athena has already entered lunar orbit, capturing images of the Moon's surface while preparing for its descent to the south pole region.
NASA and Intuitive Machines will provide live coverage of the landing and a post-event press conference to discuss the mission's objectives and outcomes.