Intuitive Machines has announced the completion of the assembly of its first Nova-C lunar vehicle. In confirmation of this, the company published its photo.
Intuitive Machines is an active participant in the NASA-funded CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) program. Its goal is to attract private companies to the development of the natural moon of our planet. In total, Intuitive Machines has won three contracts under the CLPS program.
Intuitive Machines uses its own Nova-C spacecraft to deliver cargo to the Moon. Its height is 3 m, diameter 2 m, weight (including fuel) — 1900 kg. Nova-C can deliver up to 100 kg of payload to the Moon.
The launch of Intuitive Machines’ first lunar mission is scheduled for November 15. A Falcon 9 rocket will be used for it. The ballistic window for a flight to the Moon will be open for six days. In the event that the launch fails on the specified dates, the next opportunity to launch Nova-C will appear in December.
Nova-C will carry 11 cargoes on board. Five were provided by NASA, the rest by various commercial customers. The landing site of the spacecraft will be the 24-kilometer crater Malapert A, located near the South Pole of the Moon. If successful, Intuitive Machines will be the first private company to solve the problem of delivering cargo to the Moon.
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