NASA highlights the technologies that will be sent to the Moon as part of Intuitive Machines' commercial mission
WASHINGTON -NASA is sending revolutionary technologies to the Moon aboard Intuitive Machines’ second lunar delivery as part of the agency’s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative and Artemis campaign to establish a long-term presence on the lunar surface.
As part of this CLPS flight to the Moon, NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate will test novel technologies to learn more about what lies beneath the lunar surface, explore its challenging terrain, and improve in-space communication, Stefanie Payne writes for NASA. Continue reading original article.
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
26 February 2025 - Intuitive Machines’ second Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) mission, IM-2, is scheduled to launch no earlier than Feb. 26 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The Nova-C lunar lander will deliver NASA and commercial technologies to Mons Mouton, a plateau near the Moon’s South Pole. Key payloads include NASA’s PRIME-1 experiment, a cellular communication network, and a hopping drone.
PRIME-1 consists of a drill and mass spectrometer designed to search for ice and other resources that could support future lunar exploration. The drill will penetrate up to three feet into the lunar surface, analyzing soil composition and temperature. The collected data will be publicly available to accelerate space technology development.
Additionally, two NASA Tipping Point demonstrations will be deployed. One is “Grace,” a hopping drone developed by Intuitive Machines to survey challenging terrain, including shadowed craters. By navigating obstacles efficiently, Grace could support future lunar and planetary missions. These advancements aim to enhance commercial space capabilities and contribute to future NASA exploration efforts.
Related: Intuitive Machines and Nokia to deploy first cellular network on the moon
Related: https://www.militaryaerospace.com/power/article/14301010/space-nuclear-power
Jamie Whitney, Senior Editor
Military + Aerospace Electronics
