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SpaceX Successfully Launches Third Moon Landing Mission with Athena Lander.

Science and Technology | Dated: 28 Feb 2025

In February 2025, Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) successfully launched its third moon landing mission of 2025, named 'Intuitive Machines (IM-2)' mission, carrying the Athena lander. The Nova-C class robotic lunar lander, developed by Houston, Texas-based Intuitive Machines Inc., was launched onboard the Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA.

🎯 Key Highlights:

  • - The 15-feet tall (4.7 meters) Athena lander is expected to land on Mons Mouton, a flat-topped mountain located about 160 kilometers from the Moon's South Pole on March 6, 2025.
  • - The mission is a critical component of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative and the Artemis program.

💡 Other Important Facts:

  • (i) The Athena lander is accompanied by a 3-foot (1 meter) drone, Grace, named after the late computer programming pioneer Grace Hopper.
  • (ii) The drone will attempt various test hops before venturing into a crater estimated to be 65 feet deep.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

Recently, SpaceX’s third moon landing mission with Athena lander was named what?

Correct Answer: IM-2

🚀 Quick Recap:

About Intuitive Machines Inc.

  • President: Stephen Altemus
  • Headquarters: Houston, Texas, USA