Intuitive Machines Nova-C

Nova-C lunar lander

Odysseus in preparation for launch
Manufacturer	Intuitive Machines
Designer	Intuitive Machines
Country of origin	United States
Operator	Intuitive Machines
Applications	Lunar payload delivery and support
Specifications
Spacecraft type	Lunar lander
Bus	Nova-C bus
Launch mass	1,900 kg (4,200 lb)[1]
Payload capacity	100 kg (220 lb)[2]
Power	200 W (0.27 hp)[2]
Design life	14 days after landing
Dimensions
Length	3 m (9.8 ft) [3]
Diameter	2 m (6 ft 7 in) [3]
Production
Status	In production
On order	4
Built	2
Launched	2
Retired	2
Maiden launch	15 February 2024, 1:05 am EST (06:05 UTC)[4]
Related spacecraft
Derived from	Project Morpheus[2]

The Intuitive Machines Nova-C, or simply Nova-C, is a class of lunar landers designed by Intuitive Machines (IM) to deliver small payloads to the surface of the Moon. Intuitive Machines was one of three service providers awarded task orders in 2019 for delivery of NASA science payloads to the Moon.^[7]

The IM-1 lunar lander, named Odysseus (pronounced /əˈdɪsiəs/ ə-DISS-ee-əs), was launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9^[8] rocket on 15 February 2024, reached lunar orbit on 21 February, and landed on the lunar surface on 22 February. This marked the inaugural Nova-C landing on the Moon and the first American spacecraft to perform a soft landing on the Moon in over 50 years.^[9][10] It is the first spacecraft to use methalox propulsion to navigate between the Earth and the Moon.

The second Nova-C lander with the IM-2 Athena mission with Micro-Nova Gracie and other rovers and payloads was launched on 27 February 2025,^[6] and a third Nova-C lander on the IM-3 mission is scheduled for no earlier than October 2025.^[11] SpaceX is under contract to provide Falcon 9 launches for each of the three landers.^{[12][13][14][15]}