NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative and Artemis campaign are set to witness the first uncrewed commercial moon landing near Malapert A in the South Pole region of the Moon. Intuitive Machines, a key partner in this endeavor, is targeting a historic touchdown of their Odysseus lunar lander no earlier than 5:30 p.m. EST on Thursday, Feb. 22.
Live coverage of this monumental event will be provided on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency’s official website. Audiences around the globe can tune in to witness this historic moment, with live streaming and blog updates commencing at 4 p.m. as the landing milestones unfold. Following a successful touchdown, Intuitive Machines and NASA will convene a news conference to delve into the intricacies of the mission and the promising scientific prospects on the lunar surface.
The journey leading up to this momentous occasion traces back to May 2019 when NASA entrusted Intuitive Machines with the task of delivering scientific payloads to the Moon. The Odysseus lunar lander embarked on its voyage at 1:05 a.m. on Feb. 15, hitching a ride atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Under NASA’s CLPS initiative, the agency collaborates with various U.S. companies to facilitate the delivery of scientific payloads and cutting-edge technology to the lunar surface. These partnerships enable companies to bid on task orders encompassing end-to-end delivery services, including payload integration, launch operations, and lunar landing. With the CLPS contracts boasting a cumulative maximum value of $2.6 billion through 2028, the stage is set for sustained lunar exploration endeavors.
This uncrewed commercial moon landing marks a pivotal step forward in the Artemis campaign, laying the groundwork for future scientific endeavors and paving the way for crewed missions to the Moon and beyond. Through a series of commercial robotic deliveries, NASA aims to conduct a myriad of science experiments, test innovative technologies, and demonstrate critical capabilities essential for human exploration of the lunar surface and, ultimately, manned missions to Mars.
The collaborative efforts of NASA, Intuitive Machines, and other stakeholders underscore humanity’s unwavering commitment to exploring the cosmos and unraveling the mysteries of our celestial neighbor.
