Private company Intuitive Machines launches lunar lander Athena

A private company, Intuitive Machines, launched its lunar lander, Athena, on Wednesday, aiming for a March 6 landing near the moon's south pole. This mission follows a previous attempt that ended in failure when the lander tipped over. Athena will deploy a drone named Grace to explore a dark crater, seeking frozen water. This mission is part of a larger trend, with multiple companies targeting the moon simultaneously, including U.S. and Japanese landers launched last month. NASA is funding Intuitive Machines with $62 million for this mission, which includes various scientific experiments. The lander will also carry other payloads, including NASA's Lunar Trailblazer satellite, which will map water distribution on the moon.