Elon Musk's SpaceX Launches Third Moon Mission This Year With Athena Lander Atop Falcon 9

<p>Tech billionaire Elon Musk's&nbsp;SpaceX on Thursday successfully launched the IM-2 mission, the third Moon landing mission of 2025, carrying the &lsquo;Athena&rsquo; Nova-C class lunar lander.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Liftoff of IM-2! <a href="https://t.co/iJ3BCekqJs">pic.twitter.com/iJ3BCekqJs</a></p> &mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1894904947332051048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <p> <script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script> </p> <p>The launch was spearheaded by Intuitive Machines and commenced its journey to the Moon's South Pole at 5.46 am (IST), launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral. The landing is expected on March 6.</p> <p>Houston-based Intuitive Machines made history last year when its first Nova-C lander touched down on the Moon, marking the first US landing since Apollo 17 in 1972 and the first private lunar arrival. This mission by NASA aims at establishing a long-term human presence on the Moon.</p> <p>"Lighting the way to the Moon: As Intuitive Machines's lander lifts off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, it takes with it NASA science and tech. Its mission? To help us better understand the lunar environment in preparation for future human explorers," Nasa posted on X (formerly Twitter) after the launch.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Lighting the way to the Moon: As <a href="https://twitter.com/Int_Machines?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Int_Machines</a>&rsquo; lander lifts off aboard a <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpaceX</a> Falcon 9 rocket, it takes with it NASA science and tech. Its mission? To help us better understand the lunar environment in preparation for future human explorers. <a href="https://t.co/KIx5vnpHRC">pic.twitter.com/KIx5vnpHRC</a></p> &mdash; NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1894905624326029791?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <p> <script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script> </p> <p>This mission will gather crucial data about the lunar surface, especially in the region of Mons Mouton. I will also help to gather data about future human missions to the moon.</p> <p>As per the details, NASA is paying Intuitive Machines $62 million to transport its scientific equipment to the Moon. The company has also sold payload space to other customers.</p> <p>The Falcon 9 rocket carried additional passengers, including NASA&rsquo;s Lunar Trailblazer satellite, which will map water deposits on the Moon over the coming months. Another private spacecraft onboard will pursue an asteroid flyby, serving as a precursor to potential asteroid mining operations.</p>

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