collectSPACE: Messages - Edit this post

Space News
space history and artifacts articles

Messages
space history discussion forums

Sightings
worldwide astronaut appearances

Resources
selected space history documents

Forum: Satellites - Robotic Probes
Topic: Intuitive Machines IM-2 Nova-C lunar mission

Only forum leaders (Administrator, Editor) or the person that posted this message may edit this message (and only registered users may edit/delete posts) Note: Only forum leaders may delete posts.
Delete? To delete this post, check this box.
Your UserName:
Your Password:	Forget your password?
Message to Edit: HTML is ON UBB Code is ON Smilies Legend	Originally posted by Robert Pearlman on 01-07-2025 04:42 PM Intuitive Machines release <blockquote><font size="+0">[b]IM-2 Mission Overview[/b]</font> Intuitive Machines' IM-2 mission represents a significant leap forward in lunar exploration, ready to demonstrate water hunting infrastructure services on the Moon's surface. IM-2 is set to demonstrate lunar mobility, resource prospecting, and analysis of volatile substances from subsurface materials, a critical step toward uncovering water sources beyond Earth—a key component for establishing sustainable infrastructure both on the lunar surface and in space. Launching aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in early 2025, IM-2 inherits and refines the successful Nova-C lunar lander design used in the IM-1 mission. This updated lander incorporates enhancements including the integration of lidar technology and advanced autonomous landing through machine learning and artificial intelligence. IM-2's primary objectives include deploying NASA's TRIDENT Drill and MSolo mass spectrometer to delve up to 1 meter beneath the lunar surface, demonstrating the processes required to discover life-sustaining volatiles like water and CO2. Additionally, the mission introduces innovative mobility capabilities with Intuitive Machines' Micro Nova Hopper named Grace, enabling up to 2 kilometers of traversal from the lander, along with detailed surface imaging and the potential for crater exploration. Complementing these advancements, a rover equipped with with Nokia's Lunar Surface Communications System will test high-speed, long-range communication solutions tailored for future space applications, further expanding the mission's technological repertoire. With the anticipated days of sunlight on the lunar surface, IM-2 offers a unique window of opportunity for scientific exploration and experimentation, providing ample space and mass allowances for additional payloads. By pushing the boundaries of lunar science and technology, Intuitive Machines' second lunar mission propels humanity closer to unlocking the Moon's mysteries and the sustainable use of lunar surface infrastructure services.</blockquote>
	Disable Smilies in This Post.
*If HTML and/or UBB Code are enabled, this means you can use HTML and/or UBB Code in your message.

Contact Us | The Source for Space History & Artifacts