Intuitive Machines is set to launch its second lunar mission, IM-2, this Wednesday from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A. Carried on a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket for NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, the mission will deploy the Nova‑C lunar lander—affectionately named Athena—near the Moon’s south pole.
Athena’s Mission
Following up on the partially successful landing of IM-1, Intuitive Machine’s IM-2 (Athena) is designed to search for signs of water ice beneath the lunar surface. The quest could help shape future human exploration of the Moon.
Set against the backdrop of renewed global interest in lunar exploration, IM‑2 is part of a larger NASA effort to stimulate commercial activity on the Moon. The CLPS program, under which the mission operates, aims to engage private companies in the exploration and utilization of lunar resources. By leveraging commercial innovation and partnerships, NASA hopes to transform the Moon into a hub for scientific research, technology demonstrations, and eventually, human settlement.
The designated landing site for Athena is a ridge near Shackleton crater, an area of particular interest due to its potential subsurface ice deposits. NASA selected this region because the low temperatures and permanently shadowed craters around the south pole are believed to be ideal for preserving water ice accumulated over millions of years. The data collected by PRIME‑1 could offer important clues about the Moon’s water history and its current resource potential.
Each element of the mission is designed not only to advance scientific knowledge but also to pave the way for sustainable lunar exploration. By confirming the presence and assessing the quantity of water ice, IM‑2 could influence future plans to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon. Water, once processed, can serve as a source of both drinking water and rocket propellant, thereby reducing the need to launch these supplies from Earth. “Water ice could be processed into rocket propellant or used to support a permanent lunar habitat in the future,” noted a representative from Intuitive Machines, emphasizing the practical implications of this research.
Mission Payloads
At the heart of IM‑2 is the PRIME‑1 payload, a sophisticated suite of scientific instruments engineered to detect and measure lunar water ice. PRIME‑1 comprises two main components: the TRIDENT ice drill and the MSolo mass spectrometer. The TRIDENT drill will bore into the lunar surface to extract samples, while the MSolo spectrometer analyzes the composition of those samples to determine the presence and abundance of ice. The ability to confirm and quantify water ice on the Moon is a key element in planning for future missions, as water can be split into hydrogen and oxygen to produce rocket fuel or provide life support for a long-term lunar habitat.
In addition to PRIME‑1, the mission features a small, agile component known as the Micro‑Nova Hopper. This miniaturized rover is designed to separate from the lander once Athena touches down and set out to explore the lunar surface independently. Equipped with a neutron spectrometer, the Micro‑Nova Hopper will head toward the permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) of the nearby Marston crater. These PSRs, which are never reached by sunlight, are considered prime locations for trapping water ice. As IM co‑founder and CTO Tim Crain explained, the rover may “fly into a lava tube and report images back,” highlighting its potential to explore previously inaccessible areas of the Moon and provide the first measurement of hydrogen—a strong indicator of water—in these shadowed regions.
Complementing the primary scientific objectives of IM‑2 are several additional payloads and experiments. Among these is the MiniPIX TPX3 SPACE payload, developed by the Czech company ADVACAM. This instrument is engineered to monitor the radiation field on the lunar surface, a critical step in understanding how cosmic rays and other high‑energy particles affect both equipment and potential future crews. By studying the radiation environment, scientists hope to devise better strategies to shield lunar habitats and spacecraft from harmful cosmic rays.
Meet Grace: The Micro-Rover
One of the more intriguing secondary payloads is provided by Lunar Outpost, which is sending its first lunar rover, the Mobile Autonomous Prospecting Platform (MAPP), on board. In partnership with Nokia Bell Labs, Quantum Aerospace, and Intuitive Machines, MAPP is tasked with autonomously mapping the lunar surface near the Shackleton connecting ridge. With a mass ranging from 5 to 10 kilograms and a payload capacity of up to 15 kilograms, the rover is equipped with stereo cameras, thermal sensors, and specialized sampling bins. MAPP will collect and analyze regolith samples while transmitting high‑resolution images and thermal data back to the Nova‑C lander. Complementing MAPP’s functions is MIT’s AstroAnt—a miniature rover about the size of a matchbox—that will conduct contactless temperature measurements from atop MAPP’s roof.
New Communications Technology
Another key component of the mission is the demonstration of new communication technologies on the lunar surface. In a collaboration with Nokia Bell Labs and NASA, IM‑2 will test a Network‑In‑a‑Box system that provides 4G LTE connectivity. This system is designed to link the Nova‑C lander with both the MAPP lunar rover and the Micro‑Nova Hopper. Unlike conventional ultra‑high frequency (UHF) communications, the 4G network offers greater bandwidth, which could support more data‑intensive operations in future lunar missions. The experiment could serve as a model for how future lunar bases might communicate and share data over a robust, interconnected network.
As the countdown to launch continues, scientists, engineers, and space enthusiasts are watching closely. The data gathered by IM‑2 is expected to provide valuable insights into the lunar environment—insights that will help inform the design of future missions and support the growing body of research into in‑situ resource utilization.
