SpaceX to launch private lunar lander to Moon on Valentine's Day

Intuitive Machines is poised to launch its first Nova-C class lunar lander to the Moon's surface. The mission, part of Nasa's Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative and the Artemis campaign, is scheduled for no earlier than 12:57 a.m. on Wednesday, February 14, 2024. @Int_Machines’ first lunar mission will carry six NASA instruments that will investigate the lunar environment & test technologies for @NASAArtemis missions https://t.co/tB2rf05Ogx pic.twitter.com/khxsm0Rpom — NASA Moon February 1, 2024 "Their tireless efforts have brought us to this moment, where we stand on the precipice of history, humbled by the gravity of our mission, yet emboldened by the boundless possibilities that lie ahead," President and CEO Steve Altemus expressed the profound significance of the mission. Located approximately 300 km from the Moon's south pole, the IM-1 landing site is strategically positioned near the Malapert Massif, one of the 13 candidate regions under consideration for NASA's Artemis III mission. pic.twitter.com/8nbMq1xzjz — Intuitive Machines January 23, 2024 The selection of this landing site underscores the mission's importance in supporting future human exploration and the establishment of a sustainable human presence on the lunar surface.