Intuitive Machines Attempts Historic Moon Landing Near Lunar South Pole

The Athena lander seeks to confirm water ice presence and test technologies for future human exploration.

Intuitive Machines' Athena lander is targeting a touchdown at Mons Mouton, a plateau near the moon's south pole, at approximately 12:32 p.m. ET today.
This marks the second lunar landing by a private U.S. company in a week, following Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost mission.
Athena is equipped with NASA's PRIME-1 drill to search for water ice and test resource extraction technologies for future missions.
The mission includes a rover, a hopper, and Nokia's 4G communication system, aiming to demonstrate innovative lunar exploration techniques.
NASA funded the mission in part through its Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, aligning with its Artemis goals for human exploration.