Astronomy:IM-3

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IM-3
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IM-1 Odysseus, a Nova-C lander similar to IM-3
NamesIM-3
CLPS CP-11
CP-11
Mission typeLunar landing
OperatorIntuitive Machines
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeNova-C
ManufacturerIntuitive Machines
Start of mission
Launch dateFirst Half 2026 (2026) UTC
RocketFalcon 9 Block 5
Launch siteKennedy LC-39A
Lunar lander
Landing siteReiner Gamma
File:IM-3 insignia.png
IM-3 mission insignia
Motto: MAGNETICAM LUNAM
(Magnetic Moon)  
← Blue Moon Pathfinder Mission 1
iSpace Mission 3 →

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

Background

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 January 2026, the launch of IM-3 is expected to take place in second half 2026.[4][5] 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.[6]

Mission hardware

Main article: Engineering:Intuitive Machines Nova-C

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 conduct 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.[7]

Additional IM-3 payloads include the Cooperative Autonomous Distributed Robotic Explorers (CADRE) rovers, ESA's MoonLIGHT Pointing Actuator (MPAc), KASI's Lunar Space Environment Monitor (LUSEM)[1], and AstroForge's Vestri.[8]

In 2024 the Intuitive Machines chief executive indicated that in addition to the lander, the IM-3 mission might deliver a data-relay satellite to lunar orbit.[9] NASA asserts, "Lunar relays will play an essential role in NASA’s Artemis campaign to establish a long-term presence on the Moon."[10] Additional reporting in 2025 indicated this work will be performed under a Near Space Network Services contract that NASA had previously awarded to Intuitive Machines.[11]

In December 2025, ASA funded organisation Lunaria One[12] was approved to add the Australian Lunar Experiment Promoting Horticulture (ALEPH-1) payload which will test plant growth and survival in the lunar environment. [13]

Mission events

Prior to launch

As of January 2026, the mission is scheduled for launch in the second half of 2026.[5][4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "NASA Payloads for (CLPS PRISM) CP-11 – Intuitive Machines Nova-C Lander". NASA. December 20, 2022. https://science.nasa.gov/lunar-science/clps-deliveries/cp-11/. 
  2. ↑ "NASA Selects Intuitive Machines to Deliver 4 Lunar Payloads in 2024". Intuitive Machines. 17 November 2021. https://www.intuitivemachines.com/post/nasa-selects-intuitive-machines-to-deliver-4-lunar-payloads-in-2024. 
  3. ↑ "Three-peat: Intuitive Machines Selects SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket for Third Moon Mission". Intuitive Machines. 10 August 2021. https://www.intuitivemachines.com/post/three-peat-intuitive-machines-selects-spacex-falcon-9-rocket-for-third-moon-mission. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Clark, Stephen (January 7, 2026). "Here are the launches and landings we’re most excited about in 2026". https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/01/here-are-the-launches-and-landings-were-most-excited-about-in-2026/. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Investor Update". August 2025. https://investors.intuitivemachines.com/static-files/58109d78-9320-47ea-a59b-6b3a1171d453. 
  6. ↑ NASA Selects Intuitive Machines for New Lunar Science Delivery By Karen Fox et. al. Nov.17, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Lunar Vertex: Solving Mysteries Swirling Around the Moon's Magnetic Regions | Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory" (in en). https://www.jhuapl.edu/news/news-releases/211018b-lunar-vertex. 
  8. ↑ Kajal, Kapil. "AstroForge plans first private mission to mine near-Earth asteroid" (in en). https://interestingengineering.com/space/space-mission-asteroid-mining-earth. 
  9. ↑ Berger, Eric (September 20, 2024). "One company appears to be thriving as part of NASA’s return to the Moon". https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/09/nasa-takes-a-giant-leap-toward-streaming-4k-video-back-from-the-moon/. 
  10. ↑ "NASA Selects Lunar Relay Contractor for Near Space Network Services - NASA". https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-selects-lunar-relay-contractor-for-near-space-network-services/. 
  11. ↑ "Intuitive Machines’ CEO points to issues that prevented upright touchdown during IM-2 Moon landing – Spaceflight Now". https://spaceflightnow.com/2025/05/14/intuitive-machines-ceo-points-to-issues-that-prevented-upright-touchdown-during-im-2-moon-landing/. 
  12. ↑ "Lunaria One receives Australian approval for overseas launch of lunar payload". Lunaria One. December 19, 2025. https://lunaria.one/news/19Dec25/. 
  13. ↑ "First permit granted for an Aussie lunar payload". ASA. December 12, 2025. https://www.space.gov.au/news-and-media/first-permit-granted-for-an-aussie-lunar-payload. 



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