Washington: NASA is poised to achieve another significant milestone as its Athena lunar lander prepares to touch down on the Moon’s south pole. The mission, developed by the Houston-based private company Intuitive Machines, aims to land near the Mons Mouton region, a site distinct from the ‘Shiv Shakti’ landing location of India’s Chandrayaan-3, which successfully landed in August 2023.
Mission Overview
Athena was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on February 26, 2025, and successfully entered lunar orbit earlier this week. Intuitive Machines confirmed that the landing attempt is scheduled for 11:32 a.m. EST (10 p.m. IST) on March 6. While in Low Lunar Orbit (LLO), Athena has completed 24 of its planned 39 orbits, awaiting optimal sunlight conditions for landing at Mons Mouton.
The lander has already transmitted stunning images of the lunar surface as it orbits the Moon. NASA’s objective with this mission is to explore water ice and other local resources in the south pole region, which could be crucial for sustaining future long-term human missions on the Moon.
A Step Forward in Lunar Exploration
Athena’s mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, which collaborates with private firms to transport scientific instruments and technology payloads to the lunar surface. This marks Intuitive Machines’ second lunar mission following the successful landing of its Odysseus spacecraft in February 2024.
In a parallel development, Firefly Aerospace, another American space company, recently launched its Blue Ghost Mission 1 at 3:34 a.m. EST on Sunday, carrying NASA research and technological equipment to the near side of the Moon.
Future Lunar Prospects
NASA continues to push forward in its lunar exploration efforts, aiming to lay the groundwork for sustained human presence on the Moon. “The science and technology we send to the Moon now help prepare the way for future NASA exploration and long-term human presence to inspire the world for generations to come,” said Nicky Fox, Assistant Administrator for Science at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC.
As Athena prepares for its historic landing, the mission underscores NASA’s commitment to advancing lunar research and supporting upcoming Artemis program missions, which aim to return humans to the Moon and beyond.
