Intuitive Machines
Intuitive Machines will send four surveys to the moon in 2024 as part of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative to support human landings under the Artemis program, according to an agency statement on Nov. 17.The Intuitive's Nova-C lander should land in Reiner Gamma, a so-called "lunar vortex", that is a luminous whirlpool tens of kilometers wide and often combined with phenomena of magnetism, which could be rich in mineral resources.
Credits : Jaxa
“This mission to the moon will help the United States expand our capabilities and learn more about this exciting region,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate. >
The new $ 77.5 million project follows two other missions led by Intuitive Machines. The Houston-based company's initial mission, set for early 2022, will land near Vallis Schröteri, the largest valley on the moon. In the following months, Intuitive Machines will send the NASA PRIME-1 mission, for ice drilling, to the Shackleton crater of the moon also in 2022.