IM-3
 | This article may rely excessively on sources too closely associated with the subject, potentially preventing the article from being verifiable and neutral. (January 2025) |
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| Names | IM-3 CLPS CP-11 CP-11 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Lunar landing |
| Operator | Intuitive Machines |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | Nova-C |
| Manufacturer | Intuitive Machines |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | Late October 2025 UTC |
| Rocket | Falcon 9 Block 5 |
| Launch site | Kennedy LC-39A |
| Lunar lander | |
| Landing site | Reiner Gamma |
IM-3 is an upcoming lunar mission that will be carried in late October 2025 by Intuitive Machines for NASA's CLPS program, using a Nova-C lunar lander.
Background
[edit]
NASA selected a Nova-C mission for CLPS task order CP-11.[1] It will deliver payloads to the lunar swirl in the Reiner Gamma region.[2] In August 2021, Intuitive Machines selected SpaceX to launch its third lunar mission, IM-3.[3] As of August 2024, the launch of IM-3 is expected to take place no earlier than October 2025.[4] The lander will conduct experiments investigating the properties of the unexpected magnetic field that has been detected in the vicinity of the Reiner Gamma swirl.[5]
Mission hardware
[edit]The Reiner Gamma landing site was announced for the first PRISM opportunity and the JHU Applied Physics Laboratory's Lunar Vertex payload was selected to conducted a detailed scientific analysis of the surface and surface environment. David Blewett (APL) is the principal investigator and leads the science team. Lunar Vertex includes payload elements on the Nova-C lander (APL magnetometer, SwRI plasma spectrometer, and Redwire camera arrays) and on a Lunar Outpost rover (APL magnetometer and Canadensys microscopic imager). APL also provided overall management, systems engineer, SMA, and rover integration and testing.[6]
Additional IM-3 payloads include the Cooperative Autonomous Distributed Robotic Explorers (CADRE) rovers, ESA's MoonLIGHT Pointing Actuator (MPAc) and KASI's Lunar Space Environment Monitor (LUSEM).[1]
Mission events
[edit]Prior to launch
[edit]As of early 2025, the mission is scheduled for launch in October 2025.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "NASA Payloads for (CLPS PRISM) CP-11 – Intuitive Machines Nova-C Lander". NASA. Archived from the original on February 27, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
- ^ "NASA Selects Intuitive Machines to Deliver 4 Lunar Payloads in 2024". Intuitive Machines. November 17, 2021. Archived from the original on October 3, 2023. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
- ^ "Three-peat: Intuitive Machines Selects SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket for Third Moon Mission". Intuitive Machines. August 10, 2021. Archived from the original on February 12, 2022. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
- ^ "NASA Selects Intuitive Machines for New Lunar Science Delivery". NASA (Press release). November 17, 2021. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
- ^ NASA Selects Intuitive Machines for New Lunar Science Delivery Archived 17 November 2023 at the Wayback Machine By Karen Fox et. al. Nov.17, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
- ^ "Lunar Vertex: Solving Mysteries Swirling Around the Moon's Magnetic Regions | Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory". www.jhuapl.edu. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
External links
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