[url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intuitive_Machines_Nova-C[/url] The[b] Intuitive Machines Nova-C[/b], or simply [b]Nova-C[/b], is a class of [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_lander]lunar landers[/url] designed by [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intuitive_Machines]Intuitive Machines[/url] (IM) to deliver small [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Payloads]payloads[/url] to the surface of the [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon]Moon[/url]. Intuitive Machines was one of three service providers awarded task orders in 2019 for delivery of [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA]NASA[/url] science payloads to the Moon.[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intuitive_Machines_Nova-C#cite_note-2019-to-8][8][/url] The [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IM-1]IM-1[/url] lunar lander, named [i]Odysseus[/i] (pronounced [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English]/əˈdɪsiəs/[/url] [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Pronunciation_respelling_key][i]ə-DISS-ee-əs[/i][/url]), was launched by a [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX]SpaceX[/url] [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon_9_Block_5]Falcon 9[/url][url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intuitive_Machines_Nova-C#cite_note-im1_launch_date-6][6][/url] rocket on 15 February 2024, reached lunar orbit on 21 February, and landed on the lunar surface on 22 February. This marked the inaugural Nova-C landing on the Moon and the first American spacecraft to perform a [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soft_landing]soft landing[/url] on the Moon in over 50 years.[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intuitive_Machines_Nova-C#cite_note-NYT-20240222-9][9][/url][url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intuitive_Machines_Nova-C#cite_note-10][10][/url] It is the first spacecraft to use [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methalox]methalox[/url] propulsion to navigate between the Earth and the Moon. The second Nova-C lander with the [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IM-2]IM-2[/url] [i]Athena[/i] mission with Micro-Nova [i]Gracie[/i] and other rovers and payloads was launched on 27 February 2025,[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intuitive_Machines_Nova-C#cite_note-sn-20240912-im2-7][7][/url] and a third Nova-C lander on the IM-3 mission is scheduled for no earlier than October 2025.[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intuitive_Machines_Nova-C#cite_note-sn-20240813-11][11][/url] [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX]SpaceX[/url] is under contract to provide [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon_9]Falcon 9[/url] launches for each of the three landers.[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intuitive_Machines_Nova-C#cite_note-SN20210428-12][12][/url][url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intuitive_Machines_Nova-C#cite_note-im-20210810-13][13][/url][url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intuitive_Machines_Nova-C#cite_note-columbia-14][14][/url][url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intuitive_Machines_Nova-C#cite_note-techcrunch-20200413-15][15][/url] [img]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/24/Intuitive_Machines%E2%80%99_Nova-C_lunar_lander_%28IM_00309%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/800px-Intuitive_Machines%E2%80%99_Nova-C_lunar_lander_%28IM_00309%29_%28cropped%29.jpg[/img]   In 2017, [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Policy_Directive_1]Space Policy Directive 1[/url] signaled the intention of returning NASA astronauts to the Moon.[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intuitive_Machines_Nova-C#cite_note-nyt-spd-16][16][/url] NASA documents obtained by [i][url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times]The New York Times[/url][/i] suggested the agency would involve the private spaceflight sector in the effort.[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intuitive_Machines_Nova-C#cite_note-nyt-nb-17][17][/url] In 2018, [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA]NASA[/url] solicited bids from nine companies, including Intuitive Machines, for the [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commercial_Lunar_Payload_Services]Commercial Lunar Payload Services[/url] (CLPS) program.[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intuitive_Machines_Nova-C#cite_note-CLPS_win-18][18][/url] CLPS is part of the NASA [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemis_program]Artemis program[/url]; one of the long term goals of Artemis is establishing a [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonization_of_the_Moon]permanent crewed base on the Moon[/url]. Intuitive Machines was one of three service providers awarded task orders in 2019 for delivery of NASA science payloads to the Moon.[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intuitive_Machines_Nova-C#cite_note-2019-to-8][8][/url] In 2021, Intuitive Machines received a NASA contract that was initially valued at US$77 million to conduct lunar landings for NASA.[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intuitive_Machines_Nova-C#cite_note-77_million_contract-19][19][/url] After contract modifications, the total contract value came to US$118 million in 2024.[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intuitive_Machines_Nova-C#cite_note-contract_modifications-5][5][/url] The lander structure is a hexagonal cylinder with six landing legs and is 3.938 m (12.92 ft) tall. It has a launch mass of 1,908 kg (4,206 lb) and can hold a payload of 100 kg (220 lb).[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intuitive_Machines_Nova-C#cite_note-Home-2][2][/url][url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intuitive_Machines_Nova-C#cite_note-NSSDCA-PRIME-1-20][20][/url]   Nova-C was developed by Intuitive Machines, inheriting technology from NASA's [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Morpheus]Project Morpheus[/url]. Its [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gimbal#Rocket_engines]gimbaled[/url] VR900 main engine uses methane and oxygen as [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_rocket_propellant]liquid propellants[/url]. [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pressure-fed_engine]Pressurized[/url] by helium gas, the engine produces 3,100 N (700 lbf) of thrust.[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intuitive_Machines_Nova-C#cite_note-fcc-6376549-21][21][/url] For attitude[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intuitive_Machines_Nova-C#cite_note-22][a][/url] control the vehicle uses a helium [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reaction_control_system]reaction control system[/url] (RCS).[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intuitive_Machines_Nova-C#cite_note-im1-ms-23][22][/url] Each [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_gas_thruster]thruster[/url] in the RCS produces 4.45 N (1 lbf) of thrust. At launch Nova-C is filled with 845 kg (1,863 lb) of liquid oxygen, 422 kg (930 lb) kg of liquid methane and 17 kg (37 lb) of gaseous helium.[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intuitive_Machines_Nova-C#cite_note-eda-mv-24][23][/url][url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intuitive_Machines_Nova-C#cite_note-25][24][/url] Propellant is loaded onto Nova-C at the [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Launch_pad]launch pad[/url] alongside propellant loading of the [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Launch_vehicle]launch vehicle[/url].[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intuitive_Machines_Nova-C#cite_note-sn-2023-10-04-26][25][/url] Use of liquid methane and liquid oxygen is believed to be an enabling technology for future deep space missions. Propellants aboard the lander were stored in composite over-wrap liner-less cryogenic tanks. Thermodynamic venting systems provide cryogenic cooling.[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intuitive_Machines_Nova-C#cite_note-feb-28-mu-27][26][/url]   Nova-C landers use solar panels as a source of electrical power. Most areas of the lunar surface are sunlit during [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_day]lunar days[/url], which last approximately fourteen Earth days. Electrical power is generated by a [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photovoltaic_system]photovoltaic system[/url] with three solar panels, a top deck panel and two body panels, generating a combined maximum of 200 W on the lunar surface. A 25 amp-hour battery supplies power to a 28 VDC bus for use by the spacecraft when power generation lags consumption.[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intuitive_Machines_Nova-C#cite_note-eda-mv-24][23][/url] Nova-C is capable of 24/7 data coverage for its client payloads[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intuitive_Machines_Nova-C#cite_note-Home-2][2][/url] The lander is designed to stay upright when landing on a slope of up to 10 degrees.[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intuitive_Machines_Nova-C#cite_note-nyt-2024-03-04-28][27][/url] The lander includes autonomous landing and hazard detection technology and once landed is still capable of relocating itself to a second landing site by performing a vertical takeoff, cruise, and vertical landing.[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intuitive_Machines_Nova-C#cite_note-Home-2][2][/url][url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intuitive_Machines_Nova-C#cite_note-Ars-2021-1][1][/url]   [b]IM-2[/b] is an ongoing lunar mission launched on 27 February 2025, at 00:16:30 [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coordinated_Universal_Time]UTC[/url], and conducted by [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intuitive_Machines]Intuitive Machines[/url] for [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA]NASA[/url]'s [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commercial_Lunar_Payload_Services]CLPS[/url] program, utilizing a [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intuitive_Machines_Nova-C]Nova-C[/url] lunar lander.[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IM-2#cite_note-sn-20240912-im2-3][3][/url][url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IM-2#cite_note-:2-4][4][/url] The lander, named [i][b]Athena[/b][/i] by the company, is designed to investigate the presence and quantity of [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_water]lunar water[/url] ice using [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PRIME-1]PRIME-1[/url], a payload consisting of a drill and mass spectrometer. Athena also carries the [b]Micro Nova Hopper[/b] named [i]Grace[/i]:[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IM-2#cite_note-5][5][/url] a drone equipped with a neutron spectrometer to explore the PSR ([url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permanently_shadowed_crater]permanently shadowed region[/url]) of the nearby Marston crater. The mission aims to provide the first surface measurement of hydrogen in the PSR – an essential indicator of water.[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IM-2#cite_note-6][6][/url][url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IM-2#cite_note-7][7][/url] [img]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2b/IM-2_insignia.png[/img]