Carrying NASA science and technology to the Moon, Intuitive Machines’ uncrewed lunar lander touched down at 5:23 p.m. CST on Thursday. The instruments aboard Odysseus will prepare NASA for future human exploration of the Moon under Artemis. Additional updates will be available Friday, Feb. 23.
Day: February 22, 2024
Intuitive Machines Prepares to Land on the Moon with NASA Science Ready to Begin Operations
After a successful lunar orbit insertion, Odysseus is currently orbiting the Moon, approximately 12 miles above the lunar surface. Carrying six NASA science investigations and technology demonstrations, the Intuitive Machines lander is expected to land at 6:24 p.m. EST near Malapert A in the south polar region of the Moon. Watch now on NASA+, NASA TV, and the agency’s website.
Over the last seven days as the mission has travelled from the Earth to the Moon, all powered NASA science instruments have completed their transit checkouts, collected data, and are operating as expected. Flight controllers will continue to analyze the data collected and monitor the payloads to inform preparations for landing.
The remaining lunar descent milestones include the following. All times are approximate:
| Time (EST) | Event |
| 6:11 p.m. | Powered Descent Initiation |
| 6:22 p.m. | Pitch Over with Main Engine |
| 6:23 p.m. | Hazard Detection and Avoidance |
| 6:24 p.m. | Vertical Descent |
| 6:24 p.m. | Terminal Descent |
| 6:24 p.m. | Landing |
Intuitive Machines Updates IM-1 Mission Landing Time
Intuitive Machines Updates IM-1 Landing Time, Carrying NASA Science
Carrying NASA science instruments to the Moon, Intuitive Machines’ flight controllers conducted a lunar correction maneuver to raise the orbit for Odysseus overnight. As a result, the anticipated landing time is now 4:24 p.m. EST on Thursday, Feb. 22.
NASA coverage of the mission will begin at 3 p.m. on NASA+, NASA TV, and the agency’s website.