![\"As](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/im-2-clean-shot-2-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\nCredit: Intuitive Machines\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
NASA will host a media teleconference at 1 p.m. EST Friday, Feb. 7, to discuss the agency\u2019s science and technology flying aboard Intuitive Machines\u2019 second flight to the Moon. The mission is part of NASA\u2019s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services<\/a>) initiative and Artemis campaign to establish a long-term lunar presence.\u00a0<\/p>\n Audio of the call will stream on the agency\u2019s website at:<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/live<\/a><\/p>\n Briefing participants include:<\/p>\n To participate by telephone, media must RSVP no later than two hours before the briefing to: ksc-newsroom@mail.nasa.gov<\/a>. NASA\u2019s media accreditation\u00a0policy<\/a>\u00a0is available online.<\/p>\n Intuitive Machines\u2019 lunar lander, Athena, will launch<\/a> on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The four-day launch window opens no earlier than Wednesday, Feb. 26.<\/p>\n Among the items on Intuitive Machines\u2019 lander, the IM-2 mission will be one of the first on site, or in-situ, demonstrations of resource utilization on the Moon. A drill and mass spectrometer<\/a> will measure the potential presence of volatiles or gases from lunar soil in Mons Mouton, a lunar plateau near the Moon\u2019s South Pole. In addition, a passive Laser Retroreflector Array on the top deck of the lander will bounce laser light back at any orbiting or incoming spacecraft to give future spacecraft a permanent reference point on the lunar surface. Other technology instruments on this delivery will demonstrate a robust surface communications system and deploy a propulsive drone that can hop across the lunar surface.<\/p>\n Launching as a rideshare with the IM-2 delivery, NASA\u2019s Lunar Trailblazer<\/a> spacecraft also will begin its journey to lunar orbit, where it will map the distribution of the different forms of water on the Moon.<\/p>\n Under the CLPS model, NASA is investing in commercial delivery services to the Moon to enable industry growth and support long-term lunar exploration. As a primary customer for CLPS deliveries, NASA is one of many customers for these flights.<\/p>\n For updates, follow on:<\/p>\n https:\/\/blogs.nasa.gov\/artemis<\/a><\/p>\n -end-<\/p>\n Alise Fisher \/ Jasmine Hopkins Natalia Riusech \/ Nilufar Ramji Antonia Jaramillo\n
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-2546
alise.m.fisher@nasa.gov<\/a> \/ jasmine.s.hopkins@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
nataila.s.riusech@nasa.gov<\/a> \/ nilufar.ramji@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n
Kennedy Space Center, Florida
321-867-2468
antonia.jaramillobotero@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\nShare<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n