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

SpaceX launched the IM-2 mission to the Moon's South Pole, carrying the Nova-C lunar lander on a Falcon 9 rocket.

Intuitive Machines' Athena lander on top of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, lifts off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

Source : Twitter - NASA

Tech billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX on Thursday successfully launched the IM-2 mission, the third Moon landing mission of 2025, carrying the ‘Athena’ Nova-C class lunar lander.

Liftoff of IM-2! pic.twitter.com/iJ3BCekqJs

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) February 27, 2025

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.

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.

"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.

Lighting the way to the Moon: As @Int_Machines’ 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. pic.twitter.com/KIx5vnpHRC

— NASA (@NASA) February 27, 2025

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.

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.

The Falcon 9 rocket carried additional passengers, including NASA’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.