Athena

In a groundbreaking collaboration under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, NASA and SpaceX are set to launch robotic moon lander, Athena.

• Mission Overview: Athena is a robotic moon lander set to launch as the second lunar mission for Texas-based Intuitive Machines, following their historic first private moon landing in February 2024.
• Launch Vehicle: SpaceX Falcon 9
• Launch Site: NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida

Objectives:

• Study lunar soil composition & search for subsurface water
• Test Nokia’s 4G communication system for Moon connectivity
• Deploy rovers and a hopping drone for terrain analysis

Scientific Payloads:

• MAPP Rover (Lunar Outpost):Captures 3D terrain images
• AstroAnt Mini Rover (MIT):Monitors temperature
• Grace Hopping Robot:Scans for ice and hydrogen
• Lunar Trailblazer Satellite (NASA):Maps Moon’s water distribution