IM-2 mission thread - February 26, 2025 and onward

[catdlr]

This is the IM-2 mission thread.

This thread is for updates and discussion after the F9 launch.

The launch thread is: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=53795.0

Astro-Forge Mission Thread continues here:
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=56435.msg2667386#msg2667386

[catdlr]

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1894916756994425309

[catdlr]

Deployment Video

[catdlr]

NOVA Control awaiting Deep Space Coms and data packets acquisition

https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1894919469002301783

[catdlr]

https://twitter.com/nascom1/status/1894921530200793418

[theinternetftw]

IM's official updates expected to come on this page:

https://www.intuitivemachines.com/im-2

No post-launch updates there yet.

From the webcast: planned landing date is March 6th.

[theinternetftw]

They may still be working some issues: if you zoom in to the lower left in the above tweet, it says "Telemetry - OUT OF LOCK" and "CRC Validation - OUT OF LOCK".

(CRC Validation is a way to make sure all the bits received are what they should be)

[lightleviathan]

When is Athena's first burn scheduled?

[theinternetftw]

When is Athena's first burn scheduled?

Don't think an exact timeline has been published. IM-1 had a commissioning burn for the main engine ~18 hours after launch. The press kit for IM-2 doesn't have that in its timeline, instead just three possible TCMs in the "days after launch".

Edit: Here's a link to that press kit.

[theinternetftw]

Cross posted from the launch thread:

https://bsky.app/profile/planet4589.bsky.social/post/3lj4tormk722u

Jonathan McDowell
‪@planet4589.bsky.social‬
And after a nervous wait, confirmation that Athena and Trailblazer are alive after separation from the Falcon 9.
Current orbit should be around 212 x 364000 km x 28.5 deg

[hartspace]

Looking at DSN Now, it looks like they've got the uplink going.

[theinternetftw]

Yep. Screenshot.

[catdlr]

https://twitter.com/amsatdl/status/1895058434564751688

For those who are wondering what happening..  we successfully received EPIC GEO, IM-2 and ODIN in Bochum..    too many things in parallel at the moment and not enough free hands..    in contact with all the teams.. will report here later.
2:28 AM · Feb 27, 2025

https://twitter.com/amsatdl/status/1895060847208091806

[Svetoslav]

Official update. Everything is fine. And there are a few photos:


https://x.com/Int_Machines/status/1895101633287053345

[StraumliBlight]

Intuitive Machines' IM-2 Lunar Lander Successfully Commissioned and En Route to the Moon [Feb 27]

Intuitive Machines, Inc. has announced its IM-2 mission Nova-C class lunar lander, Athena, launched on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and successfully commissioned in space, marking the first time humanity has had three lunar landers en route to the Moon at the same time.

Athena established a stable attitude, solar charging, and radio communications contact with the Company’s mission operations center in Houston after liftoff on February 26. The lander is in excellent health and preparing for a series of planned main engine firings to refine her trajectory ahead of lunar orbit insertion, which is planned for March 3. Intuitive Machines expects a lunar landing opportunity on March 6.

“Athena joining a historic wave of lunar landers on their way to the Moon is an extraordinary moment,” said Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus. “While the most vital part of this mission lies ahead, we believe this is a signal that lunar services are rapidly advancing alongside civil and commercial intent to establish a foothold on the Moon to reach further into the Solar System.”

The IM-2 mission lifted off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 7:16 p.m. ET, February 26, 2025. Athena reached her intended orbit approximately 44 minutes later and established first communication at approximately 8:17 p.m. ET.

[sdsds]

There's no Blue Ghost-1 thread. Maybe this should just be a lunar landers thread?

For whatever reason it's in  a subsection of the launchers section:
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=62212

[Targeteer]

https://twitter.com/Int_Machines/status/1895101633287053345

After liftoff on February 26, Athena established a stable attitude, solar charging, and radio communications contact with our mission operations center in Houston.  The lander is in excellent health, sending selfies, and preparing for a series of planned main engine firings to refine her trajectory ahead of lunar orbit insertion, planned on March 3. Intuitive Machines is targeting a lunar landing opportunity on March 6.

[theinternetftw]

Intuitive Machines' IM-2 Lunar Lander Successfully Commissioned and En Route to the Moon [Feb 27]

[snip]

This press release has un-recompressed png versions of the images. Attaching them here. And pointing out for anyone who missed it that the second image has F9S2 in it, as well as what might be the rideshares after deployment.

[Phil Stooke]

F9S2 also in the top image, at the top edge.

[catdlr]

There's no Blue Ghost-1 thread. Maybe this should just be a lunar landers thread?

For whatever reason it's in  a subsection of the launchers section:
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=62212

I'll ask the mods to see if they can move this over here.  Give me a day