Intuitive Machines' lunar lander aims for unprecedented south pole landing
cnn.com —
Intuitive Machines' lunar lander, Athena, is set to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday. This mission aims to land closer to the moon's south pole than any previous vehicle. Athena will carry advanced technology, including a drill and small robots, to search for water ice on the lunar surface. This mission follows Intuitive Machines' successful IM-1 mission, which faced challenges but marked the company's first lunar landing. The Athena lander will target a landing site called Mons Mouton, which offers sunlight for power and is near areas believed to contain water ice. The mission is expected to last about 10 days, with a focus on drilling and data collection.