NASA and Intuitive Machines Prepare for Landmark Lunar Mission

The IM-2 mission, featuring advanced technologies like a hopping drone and ice-mining drill, is set to explore the Moon's south pole for critical resources and scientific data.

The IM-2 mission, led by Intuitive Machines and partially funded by NASA, is scheduled to launch on February 26 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center.
The mission will target Mons Mouton near the Moon's south pole, a region of scientific interest due to its potential water-ice deposits in permanently shadowed craters.
Key technologies onboard include NASA's PRIME-1 drill and mass spectrometer, which aim to search for subsurface ice and measure volatiles, and a Nokia-built 4G/LTE communications system.
The mission will deploy the Micro Nova Hopper, a drone designed to perform the first-ever exploration inside a pitch-black lunar crater, searching for signs of water ice.
IM-2 follows Intuitive Machines' 2024 IM-1 mission and represents a significant step in NASA's Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon.