Intuitive machines' second moonshot aims for water discovery
On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, the Intuitive Machines probe launched from Cape Canaveral. Its task is to search for water on the Moon. The lander is set to touch down near the south pole of our natural satellite.
The probe from Intuitive Machines launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida, with its main task being the search for water on the Moon. This mission is particularly important because scientists suspect there may be ice in the shadowed craters near the south pole, which could play a key role in future manned missions.
The probe is equipped with a lander that is supposed to settle on Mons Mouton, approximately 100 miles from the Moon's south pole. This is the second attempt by Intuitive Machines following the unsuccessful landing of the Odysseus lander in 2024. It crashed into the Moon's surface at too high a speed. This time, the company's vice president, Trent Martin, assures that all precautions have been taken to avoid similar issues.
Collaboration with giants
The Lunar Trailblazer Orbiter, built by Lockheed Martin, was launched into orbit by SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. Onboard is the Athena lander, which will attempt a landing on March 6. The lander is equipped with a "hopping" vehicle designed to explore the area for water.
Competition in the race to the Moon
The Intuitive Machines mission is not the only one currently heading toward the Moon. This coming Sunday, the Blue Ghost lander by Firefly Aerospace will attempt a landing, and soon after, the Japanese Ispace lander will join.
The ongoing missions could play a significant role in future manned missions to the Moon. They aim to explore the possibilities of utilizing the Moon's resources in future space missions.
