Intuitive Machines and SpaceX have announced their plans to launch the IM-1 lunar lander mission on February 14th, pending a successful fueling test. The launch will take place at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A, with liftoff scheduled for 12:57 a.m. Eastern time.
The confirmation of the launch date came after a SpaceX official revealed the information during a briefing about NASA’s PACE Earth science mission. Although the date had been widely known in the industry, neither NASA nor Intuitive Machines had disclosed it during a previous briefing about the agency’s payloads on the lander.
Julianna Scheiman, the director of civil satellite missions at SpaceX, stated, “Our Intuitive Machines launch is targeting Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day. We’re tracking well to a Feb. 14 launch.” This announcement was followed by the news that a fueling test, or wet dress rehearsal, is scheduled for February 7th. This test is crucial to ensure that the lander can be properly fueled on the launch pad before liftoff.
While Intuitive Machines mentioned a multi-day window for the launch in their statement, Scheiman clarified that the mission has a three-day window from February 14th to 16th. If the launch is successful on any of these days, it will set up a landing attempt on February 22nd.
The IM-1 lunar lander, named Odysseus by the company, weighs 675 kilograms and will carry six payloads for NASA as part of a Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) award worth $118 million. Additionally, it will carry six commercial payloads, including sportswear company Columbia and artist Jeff Koons. One of the commercial payloads is Eaglecam, a camera developed by students at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. This camera will be ejected from the lander during its final descent to the moon’s surface in an attempt to capture photographs of the landing.
If the IM-1 mission is successful, it will mark the first private mission to achieve a soft landing on the moon. Previous attempts by Israel’s SpaceIL, Japan’s ispace, and Astrobotic’s Peregrine lunar lander have all ended in failure. The Beresheet lander crashed during its descent in 2019, while the HAKUTO-R M1 lander crashed during a landing attempt in April 2023. Astrobotic’s Peregrine lander suffered a propellant leak shortly after its launch on January 8th, preventing it from attempting a lunar landing.
The upcoming IM-1 mission represents a significant milestone in private space exploration and highlights the growing capabilities of companies like Intuitive Machines and SpaceX. As the world eagerly awaits the launch on February 14th, all eyes will be on Odysseus as it embarks on its journey to the moon, carrying both scientific and commercial payloads.
