SpaceX launches rocket carrying private company’s moon lander

There were no technical issues this time as SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket successfully lifted off around 1:05 a.m. EST from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida— the rocket carrying a robotic lunar lander developed by the private company Intuitive Machines. A second “major milestone” was recorded shortly into Falcon 9’s flight when Intuitive Machine’s moon lander separated from the rocket’s second stage, according to NASA.

“Today’s Intuitive Machines IM-1 mission will provide insights into the lunar surface environment paving the way for Starship’s Human Landing System putting the first NASA Artemis astronauts on the Moon,” SpaceX posted on X.

Houston-based Intuitive Machines hopes its lander, Odysseus, will be the first U.S. spacecraft to touch down on the moon in over five decades. NASA is paying the company $118 million to carry six items, including a camera to observe the dust upon landing and a radio receiver system to study charged particles on the moon’s surface. Odysseus is scheduled to land on the moon’s south pole on Feb. 22.

Other items taken on the trip include insulation material from Columbia Sportswear and a sculpture from artist Jeff Koons.

“Just a couple hours away from the launch at 1AM EST Feb 14 of my artworks Moon Phases on Intuitive Machines’ IM-1 mission,” Koons wrote on X ahead of Falcon 9’s launch. “The images capture the Nova-C lunar lander being encapsulated on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. I am honored to have the first authorized artwork on the Moon.”

Just a couple hours away from the launch at 1AM EST Feb 14 of my artworks Moon Phases on Intuitive Machines’ IM-1 mission. The images capture the Nova-C lunar lander being encapsulated on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. I am honored to have the first authorized artwork on the Moon. pic.twitter.com/RpuSjbr7de

— Jeff Koons (@JeffKoons) February 13, 2024