Athena lunar lander captures stunning Earth images

Intuitive Machines' lunar lander, Athena, launched on February 26, 2025, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Shortly after launch, it captured stunning images of Earth, including the rocket's upper stage. Athena is in good health and has established communication with its mission center. It is preparing for trajectory adjustments ahead of lunar orbit insertion on March 3, with a planned landing on March 6. This mission, part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, aims to gather lunar data. Athena carries equipment to assess water ice and establish a 4G network on the moon, marking advancements since Intuitive Machines' first lander, Odysseus, successfully landed in February 2024.