Intuitive Machines Executes Southernmost Lunar Landing and Operates Payloads

Rhea-AI Summary

Intuitive Machines (Nasdaq: LUNR) has successfully completed its IM-2 mission, achieving the southernmost lunar landing in history. The lunar lander Athena touched down 250 meters from its intended landing site in the Mons Mouton region of the lunar south pole, inside a crater.

While the lander ended up on its side after landing, mission controllers successfully accelerated several program milestones, including operating NASA's PRIME-1 suite of payloads before battery depletion. Due to the sun's direction, solar panel orientation, and extreme cold temperatures in the crater, Athena is not expected to recharge.

The mission has concluded, marking a significant achievement in accessing this challenging region characterized by harsh sun angles, Earth communication, and rugged terrain. The insights gained from IM-2 are expected to facilitate future exploration of the lunar south pole region.

Positive

• Achieved historic southernmost lunar landing
• Successfully operated NASA's PRIME-1 suite payloads
• Landed within 250 meters of target site in challenging terrain
• Gathered valuable data for future south pole exploration

Negative

• Lander ended up on its side after touchdown
• Mission ended prematurely due to battery depletion
• Unable to recharge due to solar panel orientation
• operational capability in crater conditions

HOUSTON, March 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Intuitive Machines, Inc. (Nasdaq: LUNR, LUNRW) (“Intuitive Machines”) (“Company”), a leading space exploration, infrastructure, and services company, has announced the IM-2 mission lunar lander, Athena, landed 250 meters from its intended landing site in the Mons Mouton region of the lunar south pole, inside of a crater. This was the southernmost lunar landing and surface operations ever achieved.

Images downlinked from Athena on the lunar surface confirmed that Athena was on her side. After landing, mission controllers were able to accelerate several program and payload milestones, including NASA’s PRIME-1 suite, before the lander’s batteries depleted.

With the direction of the sun, the orientation of the solar panels, and extreme cold temperatures in the crater, Intuitive Machines does not expect Athena to recharge. The mission has concluded and teams are continuing to assess the data collected throughout the mission.

This southern pole region is lit by harsh sun angles and limited direct communication with the Earth. This area has been avoided due to its rugged terrain and Intuitive Machines believes the insights and achievements from IM-2 will open this region for further space exploration.

About Intuitive Machines

Intuitive Machines is a diversified space exploration, infrastructure, and services company focused on fundamentally disrupting lunar access economics. In 2024, Intuitive Machines successfully landed the Company’s Nova-C class lunar lander, Odysseus, on the Moon, returning the United States to the lunar surface for the first time since 1972. The Company’s products and services are offered through its four in-space business units: Lunar Access Services, Orbital Services, Lunar Data Services, and Space Products and Infrastructure. For more information, please visit intuitivemachines.com.

Forward-Looking Statements 

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These statements that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward looking. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “strive,” “would,” “strategy,” “outlook,” the negative of these words or other similar expressions, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements include but are not limited to statements regarding: our expectations, results and plans relating to our second mission to the Moon, including the outcome of the completion and status of the surface operations on the second lunar mission. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s predictions, projections, or expectations based upon currently available information and data. Our actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The following important factors and uncertainties, among others, could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements in this press release: any delayed launches, launch failures, failure of our satellites or lunar landers to reach their planned orbital locations, risks associated with commercial spaceflight, including any accident on launch or during the journey into space; risks associated with the handling, production and disposition of potentially explosive and ignitable energetic materials and other dangerous chemicals in our operations; failure of our products to operate in the expected manner or defects in our sub-systems; failure to comply with various laws and regulations relating to various aspects of our business; and other public filings and press releases other factors detailed under the section titled Part I, Item 2, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the section titled Part II. Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in our most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q our Current Reports on Form 8-K, and in our subsequent filings with the SEC, which are accessible on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. 

These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this press release and current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions, and involve a number of judgments, risks, and uncertainties. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date, and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. 

Contacts

For investor inquiries:

investors@intuitivemachines.com

For media inquiries:

press@intuitivemachines.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1f884ead-66c9-44c2-86e7-4a043d6a2df7

This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual.

FAQ

What was the landing accuracy of Intuitive Machines' IM-2 Athena lunar mission (LUNR)?

Athena landed 250 meters from its intended landing site in the Mons Mouton region of the lunar south pole.

Did Intuitive Machines' IM-2 mission (LUNR) successfully operate its payloads despite landing sideways?

Yes, mission controllers successfully operated several payloads, including NASA's PRIME-1 suite, before the lander's batteries depleted.

Will Intuitive Machines' Athena lander (LUNR) continue operations on the lunar surface?

No, due to the sun's direction, solar panel orientation, and extreme cold temperatures in the crater, Athena is not expected to recharge.

What historic achievement did Intuitive Machines (LUNR) accomplish with the IM-2 mission?

The IM-2 mission achieved the southernmost lunar landing and surface operations ever accomplished.