Nova-C Lunar Lander Sends First Images From Fpace
The American company Intuitive Machines has published the first images sent by the Nova-C lander. The photos were taken shortly after the vehicle separated from the Falcon 9 second stage.
A Falcon 9 rocket sent Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lunar module to Earth’s natural satellite. The launch took place on February 15, 2024.
“Intuitive Machines successfully transmitted its first images from the IM-1 mission to Earth on February 16, 2024. The images were taken shortly after separation from the second stage of @SpaceX during Intuitive Machines’ first flight to the Moon as part of the @NASA CLPS initiative,” the University of Houston said in a statement.
The CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) program aims to implement the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Artemis lunar program, which includes landing astronauts on the Moon and creating a base on the surface of the Earth’s natural satellite.
The module is expected to land on February 22. The landing site should be the impact crater Malapert A, located in the area of the south pole of the Moon.
If successful, Intuitive Machines will be the first private company to solve the problem of delivering cargo to Selena.