IM-2 facts for kids
| Names | CLPS 3 PRIME-1 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Lunar landing |
| Operator | Intuitive Machines |
| Mission duration | 8 days, 5 hours, 59 minutes |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Athena |
| Spacecraft type | Nova-C |
| Manufacturer | Intuitive Machines |
| Launch mass | 2,120 kg (4,670 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | February 27, 2025, 00:16:30 UTC |
| Rocket | Falcon 9 Block 5 (B1083.9) |
| Launch site | Kennedy, LC-39A |
| Contractor | SpaceX |
| End of mission | |
| Last contact | March 7, 2025, 06:15 UTC |
| Lunar lander | |
| Landing date | March 6, 2025, 17:28:50 UTC |
| Landing site | Mons Mouton (84°47′26″S 29°11′45″E / 84.7906°S 29.1957°E) |
 IM-2 mission insignia Motto: INTER LUCEM ET TENEBRAS (Between Light and Darkness) |
|
IM-2 was a special trip to the Moon by a company called Intuitive Machines. It was part of NASA's program called Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS). This program pays private companies to send science tools to the Moon.
The mission launched on February 27, 2025. The spacecraft, named Athena, was a Nova-C lunar lander. It reached the Moon's surface on March 6, 2025. During landing, contact was lost for a short time. When it came back, Athena was not in the right position. One of its two antennas was not working. This meant it could not make enough power. By March 7, Athena ran out of power, and the mission ended.
Athena was designed to look for lunar water ice. It carried a special tool called PRIME-1. This tool had a drill and a device to measure ice. Athena also carried a small robot called the Micro Nova Hopper, named Grace. Grace was like a drone with a special sensor. It was meant to explore dark, cold areas of a crater. The mission hoped to find out how much water ice was there.
Contents
Exploring the Moon: The CLPS Program
IM-2 was the fourth mission in the CLPS program. In this program, NASA hires private companies to send experiments to the Moon.
The first CLPS mission was Peregrine in January 2024. It failed soon after launch and did not reach the Moon. The second CLPS mission was IM-1 by Intuitive Machines in February 2024. Its lander, Odysseus, landed on the Moon. However, the landing was rough, and the spacecraft tipped over. This mission was still partly successful. A third CLPS mission, Blue Ghost Mission 1, landed safely on March 2, 2025. IM-2 launched on February 27, 2025, while Blue Ghost was still on its way.
Spacecraft and Tools
Intuitive Machines got a contract in 2020 for this second Nova-C lander. NASA chose a landing spot near the Shackleton crater at the Moon's south pole. Scientists think there might be ice under the surface there. After the rough landing of IM-1, some changes were made to Athena. These included better laser systems to help with landing.
The main science tool was PRIME-1. It had a drill called TRIDENT to get ice samples from below the Moon's surface. It also had a mass spectrometer called MSolo. This tool measured how much ice was in the samples.
| Mission type | Lunar hopper |
|---|---|
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | Intuitive Machines |
| Payload mass | 1 kg |
| Start of mission | |
| Rocket | Falcon 9 Block 5 |
| Launch site | Kennedy, LC-39A |
| Moon rover | |
| Landing site | Shackleton connecting ridge |
| Mission type | Lunar rover |
|---|---|
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | Lunar Outpost |
| Landing mass | 5-10 kg |
| Payload mass | 15 kg |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | February 27, 2025 |
| Rocket | Falcon 9 Block 5 |
| Launch site | Kennedy, LC-39A |
| Moon rover | |
| Landing site | Mons Mouton |
| Mission type | Lunar rover |
|---|---|
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | MIT |
| Dimensions | The size of a matchbox |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | February 27, 2025 |
| Launch site | Kennedy, LC-39A |
| Moon rover | |
| Landing site | Mons Mouton |
A small device called MiniPIX TPX3 SPACE was also on board. It was made by a Czech company. This device was designed to check radiation levels on the Moon. It helps scientists learn how to protect astronauts and equipment from harmful cosmic rays. This was the first time a Czech device was sent to the Moon's surface.
The Micro-Nova Hopper
During the mission, Intuitive Machines also planned to use its μNova (Micro-Nova) Hopper. This small robot would separate from the Athena lander after it landed. It could then hop around the Moon's surface. It used small rockets to propel itself short distances.
The Micro-Nova Hopper was designed to explore hard-to-reach areas. This included deep craters on the Moon. It would search for lunar ice. Water ice is very important for future human missions to the Moon. It could be turned into rocket propellant or used to support a permanent lunar habitat. The Micro-Nova was also supposed to take the first pictures from inside craters at the Moon's south pole. It could carry a 1-kilogram science tool for more than 25 kilometers.
The MAPP Rover
A space technology company called Lunar Outpost sent its first lunar rover, called MAPP. MAPP stands for Mobile Autonomous Prospecting Platform. It worked with Nokia Bell Labs and Intuitive Machines. MAPP was going to collect Moon samples for NASA. This was a symbolic contract worth just $1. It showed a new way for private companies to get resources in space.
MAPP weighed about 5-10 kilograms. It could carry up to 15 kilograms of other tools. Its top speed was 10 centimeters per second. Over several days, the rover would map the Moon's surface by itself. It would take 3D pictures and gather heat data. It would also check samples of lunar regolith (Moon dirt) in a special bin. Pictures and other data would be sent back to the Athena lander using radio. MAPP used a camera called RESOURCE, made by MIT, to take 3D images and videos. It also carried MIT's AstroAnt. This tiny robot, the size of a matchbox, would measure temperatures while riding on MAPP's roof.
4G on the Moon
A special project with Nokia Bell Labs and NASA was also on board. It aimed to show that 4G cell phone service could work on the Moon. Nokia's equipment would connect the Athena lander with the MAPP rover and the Micro-Nova Hopper. This 4G/LTE network would send more data than older space communication systems. Nokia hopes that future Moon missions will share this kind of network.
Yaoki Rover
The Yaoki is a small Moon rover. It was made by a Japanese company called Dymon. It weighs 498 grams, which is less than a pound.
Mission Timeline
Getting Ready for Launch
In May 2024, Intuitive Machines said IM-2 was almost ready. They were making updates to the software and hardware. This included improving the landing legs for better control during landing. In September 2024, the company said they were on track for a January 2025 launch. Another spacecraft, the Lunar Trailblazer orbiter, was also planned to launch on the same rocket. In November 2024, Intuitive Machines announced the launch was aimed for February 2025.
The original landing spot for IM-2 was near Shackleton Crater. But before launch, the landing site was changed to Mons Mouton. This is a high, flat area near the Moon's south pole. It was also the planned landing site for a rover called VIPER, which was cancelled.
Launch Day
IM-2 launched on February 27, 2025, at 00:16 UTC. It lifted off on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Several other things were also launched on this rocket. Forty-five minutes after launch, Athena separated from the rocket. It then made contact with controllers on Earth. The next morning, it was confirmed that IM-2 was on track to orbit the Moon on March 3. The landing attempt was set for March 6.
Landing on the Moon
On March 6, three minutes before landing, Athena began its final descent. A cloud of Moon dust made it hard for the lander's lasers to work. This also blocked radio signals. After a time with no communication, it was confirmed that Athena had landed. It was on the Moon and making some power. However, one of its two radio antennas had lost its signal. The Intuitive Machines team put Athena into a power-saving "safe mode." This was in case it tipped over, like the IM-1 mission. After 38 minutes, the team realized Athena was not making enough power.
Later that day, NASA and Intuitive Machines held a press conference. The CEO of Intuitive Machines said Athena was not in the "correct attitude". This meant its solar panels were not facing the Sun. But it had started doing some science experiments, even with limited power.
On March 7, Intuitive Machines announced that pictures showed Athena was resting sideways in a crater. The team quickly tried to complete science tasks before the batteries died. Because of how the solar panels were positioned and the very cold temperatures, Athena was not expected to recharge. This brought the mission to an end.
After the Mission
On March 7, 2025, a spacecraft called the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) took a picture of Athena. It showed Athena landed inside a 20-meter (about 65-foot) wide crater. This was about 23.5 hours after it landed.
On the same day, Intuitive Machines said the mission had ended. Teams are still looking at all the data they collected.
See also
Images for kids
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IM-2 mission insignia
