Thu Feb 27 03:19:13 UTC 2025: ## US Company Aims for Second Moon Landing with Advanced Lunar Lander

**Cape Canaveral, FL** – Intuitive Machines, a Houston-based company, launched its second lunar lander, Athena, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Wednesday, aiming for a lunar touchdown around March 6th. This mission marks a significant step for the private sector’s involvement in lunar exploration.

Athena, a hexagonal-shaped lander, carries a suite of advanced scientific instruments, including a subsurface ice drill and a pioneering hopping drone named Grace. The drone, designed to navigate challenging lunar terrain, will demonstrate capabilities crucial for future crewed missions. A small rover will also test a lunar cellular network provided by Nokia Bell Labs, paving the way for integrated communication systems in future astronaut suits.

This mission builds upon Intuitive Machines’ previous attempt, which saw their Odysseus lander tip over upon landing. The company has addressed the issues from that mission, improving crucial systems such as the laser altimeter to ensure a successful, upright landing this time. Athena’s landing site, the Mons Mouton plateau near the lunar south pole, is closer to the pole than any previous landing site.

The mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, a public-private partnership aimed at reducing the cost of lunar missions. NASA officials expressed excitement about the scientific data and technological demonstrations the mission will provide, highlighting its importance in preparing for future human missions to the Moon and Mars under the Artemis program.

Athena’s launch coincides with other private lunar missions, including Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost, which launched earlier and is scheduled to land around March 2nd, and NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer probe, which will enter lunar orbit to study water distribution. These missions highlight the growing private sector involvement in lunar exploration, amidst ongoing speculation about the future of NASA’s Artemis program.

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