NASA’s Historic First US Uncrewed Commercial Moon Landing by Intuitive Machines

NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, is making history once again with the upcoming first US uncrewed commercial moon landing by Intuitive Machines. This groundbreaking event is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative and Artemis campaign.

Intuitive Machines, a US-based aerospace company, is targeting a lunar landing no earlier than 5:49 p.m. EST on Thursday, February 22, 2024. The Odysseus lunar lander, developed by Intuitive Machines, is set to touch down near Malapert A in the South Pole region of the Moon.

Live coverage of the landing will be broadcasted on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency’s website. NASA TV can be accessed on various platforms, including social media. Coverage will begin at 4:15 p.m. EST, with live streaming and blog updates as the landing milestones occur. Upon successful landing, Intuitive Machines and NASA will hold a news conference to discuss the mission and the science opportunities that lie ahead as the company begins lunar surface operations.

In May 2019, NASA awarded a task order for scientific payload delivery to Intuitive Machines. Odysseus launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on February 15, 2024.

NASA is collaborating with several US companies to deliver science and technology to the lunar surface through the CLPS initiative. These companies may bid on task orders for end-to-end delivery services, which include payload integration and operations, launching from Earth, and landing on the Moon’s surface. NASA’s CLPS contracts have a cumulative maximum contract value of $2.6 billion through 2028.

Through the Artemis campaign, commercial robotic deliveries will perform science experiments, test technologies, and demonstrate capabilities to help NASA explore the Moon in preparation for Artemis Generation astronaut missions to the lunar surface and ultimately crewed missions to Mars.

Social media users can follow the mission on various platforms by using the hashtag #Artemis. They can also stay connected by following and tagging the following accounts: NASA (@NASA), NASA_Johnson (@NASA_Johnson), NASAArtemis (@NASAArtemis), and NASAMoon (@NASAMoon).

For more information about NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative, visit https://www.nasa.gov/clps.

NASA, founded in 1958, is an independent agency of the US Federal Government responsible for the nation’s civilian space program and for aeronautics and space research. NASA’s mission is to explore the unknown in air and space, innovate for the benefit of humanity, and inspire the world through discovery.

Join NASA on this historic journey as we push the boundaries of human exploration and discovery. Together, we will continue to reach for new heights and unlock the mysteries of the universe.