Athena Lunar Lander Successfully Touches Down Near Moon’s South Pole
Just eight days post-launch, Intuitive Machines’ commercially developed lunar lander, known as Athena, has successfully landed near the lunar south pole. The mission is a vital part of NASA’s Artemis program, aiming to gather insights about the moon’s conditions for future astronaut landings.
The Landing Details
The IM-2 spacecraft, which is designed to survey the environment for potential human exploration, executed its landing at approximately 12:32 p.m. EST, approximately 100 miles away from the lunar south pole. Following the successful touchdown, Intuitive Machines confirmed communication with the lunar lander.
“It looks like we’re down,” stated Tim Crain of Intuitive Machines, following the confirmation of the landing.
Currently, the team is assessing the orientation of the lander on the lunar surface, as it remains uncertain whether it landed upright or not.
Mission Objectives and Equipment
Athena is equipped with a variety of advanced scientific instruments, including:
- A small rover designed for surface exploration.
- Experimental cellular communication technology.
- A rocket-powered “hopper” for mobility across the lunar surface.
Powered by solar energy, Athena has a 10-day operational window to conduct its measurements and observations before the onset of lunar night, which would impede its functionalities.
Descent and Landing Maneuvers
On Monday, following its launch, Athena entered lunar orbit. The final descent phase involved a series of carefully calculated maneuvers. This included:
- Using cameras and lasers from its terrain-relative navigation system to monitor its descent accurately.
- Executing a powered descent initiation maneuver to slow down from a velocity of 4,000 mph.
- Transitioning to a vertical orientation for the final descent phase.
- Reducing speed to a gentle 2.2 mph for touchdown near the Mons Mouton region.
Scientific Aims and Lunar Environment Studies
This mission holds great significance for future lunar exploration, particularly in the south polar region where scientists believe water ice may be present in permanently shadowed craters. This ice could provide valuable resources for humans on the moon, as it can aid in producing water, breathable air, and rocket fuel.
As the Grace hopper prepares to make its jumps for measuring soil and water compounds, it is expected to relay data back to the Athena lander using advanced 4G/LTE technology provided by Nokia. The lander’s primary objective includes:
- Investigating the soil composition and temperature in the vicinity.
- Photographing celestial events, including a solar eclipse on March 14.
- Conducting in situ measurements near the identified cold traps.
Previous Missions and Future Prospects
Athena represents the second of three lunar landers scheduled to reach the moon this year. Its predecessor, the Odysseus lander launched by Intuitive Machines last year, encountered challenges upon landing but still managed to gather some data. Lessons learned from this previous mission prompted implementation of improved technology and navigational strategies for Athena.
Furthermore, another lander by Firefly Aerospace, called Blue Ghost, previously achieved a successful landing on March 2, 2025, further demonstrating the increasing momentum in commercial lunar exploration.
As advancements continue in lunar missions, NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program plays a crucial role in fostering public-private partnerships to expand our understanding of the lunar environment ahead of future Artemis missions.
Stay tuned for more updates as Athena’s mission unfolds and reveals new insights into our nearest celestial neighbor.
