Payam Javan: Intuitive Machines, a Houston-based aerospace company, successfully launched its moon lander, Nova-C, named Odysseus, from Florida in a historic mission to achieve the first U.S. lunar touchdown in over 50 years and the first by a privately owned spacecraft. Lifted by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, the launch was captured in a live NASA-SpaceX online video feed, showcasing the two-stage rocket’s ascent into the night sky. The six-legged lander, carrying six NASA payloads, was released about 48 minutes after launch and began its journey to the moon, aiming for a Feb. 22 landing at crater Malapert A near the moon’s south pole.

This mission comes a month after Astrobotic Technology’s lunar lander faced propulsion issues, marking the third private company failure in achieving a “soft landing” on the lunar surface. The success of Odysseus is critical for NASA’s Artemis moon program, where the agency collaborates with private companies to cut costs and accelerate lunar exploration. Plans for NASA’s first crewed Artemis moon landing were recently delayed to late 2026, while China aims for a crewed lunar landing by 2030. Intuitive Machines’ IM-1 mission is part of NASA’s strategy to utilize privately owned spacecraft, in contrast to the Apollo era when NASA owned and operated the technology.

Following this mission, Intuitive Machines plans for IM-2 and IM-3 missions, scheduled to land at the lunar south pole in 2024, contributing to the global interest in lunar exploration. Recent lunar landings by Japan and India have added to the achievements in soft lunar touchdowns, with China’s historic landing on the far side of the moon in 2019.