Intuitive Machines

Joined by legendary NASA Flight Director Gene Kranz, Intuitive Machines flight controllers commanded Athena’s third and final planned Trajectory Correction Maneuver (TCM) at 12:18 p.m. CST on March 2 to refine the lander’s trajectory ahead of Lunar Orbit Insertion (LOI). Athena is now prepared for her scheduled March 3 LOI maneuver, the longest main engine firing to date. She continues to be in excellent health.

The American flag mounted to Athena’s side closeout panel was cleaned for flight service on March 2, 1970, during the height of the Apollo program. While this NASA-donated flag never left Earth during the Apollo missions, Athena is continuing the tradition established by Odysseus, carrying the Apollo-era American flag on her journey to the lunar surface. 

Vests have become a recognizable symbol of leadership in space mission control, a tradition rooted in the legacy of Gene Kranz, NASA’s iconic Flight Director during the Apollo missions. Intuitive Machines Red, White, and Blue teams staff Nova Control, our Houston-based mission control room, for eight-hour shifts to provide 24/7 mission operations. Kranz’s distinctive white vest represented his calm under pressure and leadership during high-stakes situations. Today, mission directors at Intuitive Machines continue this tradition. These vests pay homage to Kranz’s leadership and symbolize mission directors' critical role in space exploration missions.   #AdLunam #IM2 #Athena

Athena sent the first IM-2 images from space shortly after liftoff from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida while traveling approximately 24,000 miles per hour. Athena used four super-wide field of view public affairs cameras to take pictures every minute for 30 minutes after separating from SpaceX’s second stage. Then, Athena took photos every 5 minutes for the next hour. Follow along for mission updates: https://bit.ly/3F0yRu9  

After liftoff on February 26, Athena established a stable attitude, solar charging, and radio communications contact with our mission operations center in Houston. The lander is in excellent health, sending selfies, and preparing for a series of planned main engine firings to refine her trajectory ahead of lunar orbit insertion, planned on March 3. Intuitive Machines is targeting a lunar landing opportunity on March 6. Intuitive Machines intends to continue publishing mission updates on X and the IM-2 mission webpage. https://lnkd.in/g4Mb7QGt

Athena completed all integration milestones and is safely encapsulated within SpaceX's payload fairing in preparation for launch. https://lnkd.in/gaUH_xYa #AdLunam #IM2 #Athena

10…9…8… The countdown begins as we head back to the Moon later this week. Yes, back. Yes, that Moon. Learn more about how our Omni-Shade Sun Deflector and Omni-Heat Infinity techs will help protect the IM-2 mission’s Athena lunar lander at Columbia.com/moon

#ValentinesDay 2024, Odysseus prepared for his epic journey #ToTheMoon. Now, Athena is preparing to make the same voyage approximately one year later. 📸: SpaceX - 2024 #IM2 #AdLunam

Athena has arrived in Cape Canaveral, Florida. In coordination with SpaceX, liftoff is targeted for a four-day launch window that opens no earlier than February 26.   Read More: https://lnkd.in/gjVE64tj #IM2 #AdLunam #Space #Exploration  Columbia Sportswear Company