IM-3

Last updated

IM-3
Intuitive Machines' Nova-C lunar lander (IM 00309) (cropped).jpg
IM-1 Odysseus, a Nova-C lander similar to IM-3
NamesIM-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 dateFirst Half 2026 (2026) UTC
Rocket Falcon 9 Block 5
Launch site Kennedy LC-39A
Lunar lander
Landing site Reiner Gamma
IM-3 insignia.png
IM-3 mission insignia
Motto: MAGNETICAM LUNAM
(Magnetic Moon)
←  IM-2 (Athena)
IM-4  →

IM-3 is an upcoming lunar mission planned for first half 2026 by Intuitive Machines for NASA's CLPS program, using a Nova-C lunar lander.

Contents

Background

CADRE ATLO Team presents completed rovers CADRE ATLO Team Presents Completed Rovers.jpg
CADRE ATLO Team presents completed rovers

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 7 August 2025, the launch of IM-3 is expected to take place in second half 2026. [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

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

Prior to launch

As of August 7, 2025, the mission is scheduled for launch in the second half of 2026. [4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "NASA Payloads for (CLPS PRISM) CP-11 – Intuitive Machines Nova-C Lander". NASA. December 20, 2022. Archived from the original on February 27, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  2. ↑ "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.
  3. ↑ "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.
  4. 1 2 "Investor Update". August 2025. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ "Lunar Vertex: Solving Mysteries Swirling Around the Moon's Magnetic Regions | Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory". www.jhuapl.edu. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
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