Intuitive Machines Nova-C
The Intuitive Machines Nova-C, or simply Nova-C, is a class of lunar landers designed by the American company Intuitive Machines to deliver small commercial payloads to the surface of the Moon.
Nova-C Class IM-1 Odysseus in preparation for launch | |
| Manufacturer | Intuitive Machines |
|---|---|
| Designer | Intuitive Machines |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Operator | Intuitive Machines |
| Applications | Lunar payloads delivery and support |
| Specifications | |
| Spacecraft type | Lunar lander |
| Bus | Nova-C Bus |
| Launch mass | 1,900 kg (4,200 lb) |
| Payload capacity | 100 kg (220 lb) |
| Power | 200 W (0.27 hp) |
| Design life | After landing, 14 Earth days max. |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 3 m (9.8 ft) |
| Diameter | 2 m (6 ft 7 in) |
| Production | |
| Status | In production |
| On order | 2 |
| Launched | 1 |
| Maiden launch | 01:05 a.m. EST, 15 February 2024 |
| Related spacecraft | |
| Derived from | Project Morpheus |
Intuitive Machines was one of nine commercial landing service providers selected by NASA in November 2018 to submit bids for the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. In 2019 NASA awarded Intuitive Machines a "task order" for the delivery of a scientific payload to the Moon. In 2021 Intuitive Machines received a US$77 million dollar contract to conduct lunar landings for NASA.
The first of three Nova-C landers, the "Mission IM-1/ Nova-C Odysseus Lander launched on 15 February 2024 at 1:05 AM EST.
Should the first lander, Odysseus, successfully land on the Moon, it will mark the first successful soft Moon landing for an American made spacecraft in over 50 years (Apollo 17), and will also mark the first time a private company has made a successful soft landing on the Moon.
The second Nova-C lander with the IM-2 mission is scheduled for a launch in March 2024, and a third Nova-C lander on the IM-3 mission is scheduled for June 2024. All three landers will launch on SpaceX's Falcon 9 launch vehicle. Nova-C lunar landers are not fully designed to withstand the cold temperatures of a lunar night and are only designed to last a maximum of approximately 14 Earth days, which is the length of the sunlit portion of one Moon day.
The Intuitive Machines Nova-C lander program is a part of the NASA Artemis program, one of whose long term goals is to establish a permanent manned base on the Moon.