Overview

• Athena, a lunar lander from private company Intuitive Machines, landed near Mons Mouton, a site close to the Moon's south pole, on March 6, 2025.
• The landing marks the closest approach to the lunar south pole by any human-made object, an area of interest due to potential water ice deposits.
• Following the landing, Intuitive Machines faced communication challenges, leaving uncertainty about Athena's operational status and orientation.
• Athena carries instruments to search for water and resources, including a drill, spectrometer, and a 'hopping' drone for crater exploration.
• This mission is part of NASA's Artemis program and includes testing the first lunar 4G network to support future human exploration.