Houston-based aerospace firm Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lander, dubbed Odysseus, is rapidly approaching the moon, with touchdown expected in the coming days.
If successful, it will mark the first lunar landing – manned or otherwise – in over 50 years, with a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket providing the vessel.
NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative, which this mission (called IM-1) is part of, aims to send astronauts back to the moon in 2026, 54 years after Gene Cernan became the eleventh human being to walk on the Moon in the Apollo 17 mission.
Per NASA’s website: “The IM-1 mission will carry NASA science and technology instruments focusing on plume-surface interactions, space weather/lunar surface interactions, radio astronomy, precision landing technologies, and a communication and navigation node for future autonomous navigation technologies.”
As previous attempts have shown, pulling off a successful unmanned lunar landing is far from guaranteed, but if Intuitive Machines does manage to touch rock on Thursday, the Nasdaq-listed group’s shares will already be there, waiting.
The stock rallied over 52% on Tuesday after the group provided optimistic updates about the landing over social media.
The IM-1 mission to land on the Moon has triumphed over numerous challenges, showcasing exceptional resilience, innovation, and teamwork.
Intuitive Machines expects to land on the Moon at 1649 CST on Thursday, February 22nd. pic.twitter.com/gKbek2222S
— Intuitive Machines (@Int_Machines) February 20, 2024
IM-1 is also carrying merch from US sportswear company Columbia to test the durability of its Omni-Heat Infinity technology.
“Inspired by a NASA space blanket, our Omni-Heat technology has kept outdoor explorers warm for years. Now the advanced Omni-Heat Infinity thermal-reflective is going to space. But it’s still the same tech we use to keep you comfortable here on Earth,” reads Columbia’s splash page on the matter.
Intuitive Machines has payload contracts with NASA through its four business wings- Lunar Access Services, Orbital Services, Lunar Data Services, and Space Products and Infrastructure.
Intuitive Machines went public during the SPAC boom in January 2021 through a reverse merger with Inflection Point Acquisition Corp.
Group revenues in the latest quarter were $12.7 million with an operating loss of $23.2 million, according to SEC filings.
Revenues were primarily driven by NASA and other commercial payload contracts associated with the IM-1, IM-2 and IM-3 missions.
Lunar touchdown is scheduled for 16:49 CST, Thursday, 22 February.