Intuitive Machines Lunar Landing Site Moves to South PoleNASA, in cooperation with Intuitive Machines, is moving the landing site for the first Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) mission to Moon’s South Pole as an important first step in managing risks for future Artemis landings.One of the first lunar payload deliveries under NASA’s CLPS initiative was awarded to Intuitive Machines in May 2019. The company’s first flight, Intuitive Machines-1 (IM-1) will carry six NASA payloads on its Nova-C lunar lander to a site near the Malapert A crater. This relatively flat and safe region is within the heavily cratered southern highlands on the side of the Moon visible from Earth.The NASA payloads will focus on demonstrating communication, navigation and precision landing technologies, and gathering scientific data about rocket plume and lunar surface interactions, as well as space weather and lunar surface interactions affecting radio astronomy. Through the CLPS initiative, NASA is supporting the development of a lunar economy by working with American companies to deliver scientific, exploration, and technology payloads to the Moon’s surface and lunar orbit.The decision to move from the original landing site in Oceanus Procellarum was based on a need to learn more about terrain and communications near the lunar South Pole, which is expected to be one of the best locations for a sustained human presence on the Moon. Landing near Malapert A also will help mission planners understand how to communicate and send data back to Earth from a location that is low on the lunar horizon. The landing date is expected in the third quarter of 2023.While NASA is the primary customer purchasing lunar delivery services, CLPS vendors also work with other customers to send non-NASA payloads to the Moon. CLPS providers are responsible for managing their activities to ensure they are compliant with NASA schedule requirements. Intuitive Machines will confirm the launch date, lunar landing date, and duration of lunar surface operations, as well as updates on the thermal environment that the payloads will experience, given the temperature extremes for lunar transit and at the lunar South Pole.Learn more about CLPS activities by following the CLPS blog, @NASAMoon and @NASAArtemis on Twitter, as well as the NASA Moon Facebook and Artemis Instagram accounts.Read the latest Moon news at: https://moon.nasa.gov/news/articlesGet the latest from NASA delivered every week. Subscribe here: www.nasa.gov/subscribeAuthor Heidi LavellePosted on May 25, 2023Tags IM-1, Intuitive Machines, Malapert A, Nova-C, South Pole
Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lunar lander inside the company’s facility at the Houston Spaceport. Credits: Intuitive Machines.
The Malapert A region is seen near the top of this topographic map of the Moon’s South Pole based on data released by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter. Credit: Lunar and Planetary Institute Regional Planetary Image Facility.
Geometric-2 and DOGE-1 Mission UpdateThe Geometric-2 mission and DOGE-1 mission licensing approvals with the FCC are still undergoing further coordination with mission management as well as the NTIA and NASA. GEC expects approval upcoming in alignment with a NET Transporter-10 SpaceX launch in collaboration with our integration partner Maverick Space to launch the MOXY-1 and NOCLIP-1 satellites which were completed by Exobotics. There is the final assembly build of DOGE-1 to begin at Exobotics beyond the Flatsat configuration in alignment with the launch timing to the Moon as per fulfillment of the GEC SpaceX LSA which is manifested on IM-1.The resolution of open issues with Files # 0811-EX-CN-2022 (Geometric-2) & 0083-EX-CN-2022 (DOGE-1) NASA Frequency Assignment issues is sought with NASA Glenn Research Center, namely ensuring regulatory concerns of the requested operations conform especially the requested center point frequency of 8262.5 MHz and the interference concerns with the proposed uplink operations using a frequency of 2109.5 MHz.
Intuitive Machines, Inc. (Nasdaq: LUNR, LUNRW) (“Intuitive Machines”) or the (“Company”), a leading space exploration, infrastructure, and services company, has successfully conducted a complete spacecraft test run of its Nova-C lunar lander – a significant technical achievement in the Company’s efforts to completing its lunar lander. The complete spacecraft test run verified Nova-C’s flight software, flight avionics, liquid oxygen and liquid Methane loading, high-pressure helium system performance, propulsion system complete functionality, and culminating in a hot fire of the Nova-C main engine.
“This was the most comprehensive test to date short of flying the lander in space,” said Steve Altemus, Intuitive Machines Co-founder, President, and CEO. “This test run represents a crucial step forward in validating the performance of the entire Nova-C lunar lander system on its way to the Moon. The technical excellence the Intuitive Machines team showed during this comprehensive test has propelled the Company closer to delivering Nova-C to Florida for launch.”The complete spacecraft test run conducted at Intuitive Machines’ Small Vehicle Engine Verification Facility at the Houston Spaceport is a culmination of a series of tests completed during Nova-C’s production. Comprehensive testing of the full lander with all its systems powered on and operating is an essential step in the process of verifying all systems are performing as expected. The Nova-C spacecraft systems have been undergoing significant integrated functional testing and checkout in preparation for this fully integrated performance test.
The SpaceTV website has the IM-1 launch scheduled for NET September 14, 2023.https://www.spacetv.net/live/launch-of-spacex-falcon-9-with-doge-1-mission-to-the-moon/
Quote from: Vahe231991 on 08/13/2023 02:12 pmThe SpaceTV website has the IM-1 launch scheduled for NET September 14, 2023.https://www.spacetv.net/live/launch-of-spacex-falcon-9-with-doge-1-mission-to-the-moon/It's also NET today. I don't think that gives any useful info.
Intuitive Machines says their first lunar lander mission, IM-1, is scheduled for launch on Nov. 15, the start of a six-day launch window.
Intuitive Machines Reports Second Quarter 2023 Financial Results and Announces Expected Launch of First Lunar MissionAugust 14, 2023[...]Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus said, “During the second quarter, we were laser-focused on the final assembly process in preparing IM-1 for launch. Our lunar lander is complete and will be prepared for delivery in September. The Company has secured a launch window from pad 39A, preserving a six-day launch window starting on November 15th.”[...]
CEO Steve Altemus says the Falcon 9 has a window from Nov. 15-Nov. 20. If there's bad weather, or a high priority NASA or DOD mission takes precedence, there is a backup launch opportunity in December. Going to be close with Astrobotic's Peregrine, which is NET December launch.
Quote from: Bean Kenobi on 08/13/2023 03:46 pmQuote from: gongora on 08/13/2023 03:43 pmQuote from: Vahe231991 on 08/13/2023 02:12 pmThe SpaceTV website has the IM-1 launch scheduled for NET September 14, 2023.https://www.spacetv.net/live/launch-of-spacex-falcon-9-with-doge-1-mission-to-the-moon/It's also NET today. I don't think that gives any useful info.This website also gives "Starliner-1" (not CFT but the following one) on September 15th, when we already know CFT wil only be in March 2024. Seems to be unreliable.Now that the IM-1 will be delivered in September and launched in November, I should say that the SpaceTV website cautioned that the launch window given for the IM-1 was subject to change.
Quote from: gongora on 08/13/2023 03:43 pmQuote from: Vahe231991 on 08/13/2023 02:12 pmThe SpaceTV website has the IM-1 launch scheduled for NET September 14, 2023.https://www.spacetv.net/live/launch-of-spacex-falcon-9-with-doge-1-mission-to-the-moon/It's also NET today. I don't think that gives any useful info.This website also gives "Starliner-1" (not CFT but the following one) on September 15th, when we already know CFT wil only be in March 2024. Seems to be unreliable.
Intuitive Machines has announced that their first lunar lander is scheduled for launch on Nov. 15! The launch window is 6 days long. After launch, Nova-C will raise its orbit to a TLI over 4 days. After 1 day in Lunar orbit, Nova-C will attempt to land near the Lunar south pole.
Launch will take place from LC-39A aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9. Because the lander uses liquid methane as its fuel, it needs to be fueled as late as possible. In order to do this, SpaceX will modify the strongback to be able to fuel the lander while its inside the payload fairing.
Nova-C is fully assembled 🌟
Great to see the Intuitive Machines lander, which could become the first American spacecraft to soft land on the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972. Launch expected next month on a SpaceX Falcon 9 if all goes to plan.
Ars takes a close-up look at the first US lunar lander in half a centuryOct 3, 2023Intuitive Machines has a tentative launch date of November 16, when a six-day window opens for its spacecraft to reach the Moon. However, there are concerns about whether a Falcon 9 rocket will be available at that time. The mission will lift off from SpaceX's Launch Complex 39A pad, and there are a handful of missions ahead of it, including the Psyche asteroid mission, a cargo supply mission for NASA, and potentially the USSF-52 mission.
