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Intuitive Machines—Nova-CIntuitive Machines—
Nova-C
Photo: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani · Public domain (NASA) (opens images.nasa.gov)

Nova-C

by Intuitive MachinesUS

PilotStage 3 of 5

Two landings, both tipped over; next mission, IM-3, targets Reiner Gamma.

Updated 30 Jun 2026Checked 25 Sep0 updates this week

Milestones

Next · IM-3 to Reiner Gamma
  1. IM-1 Odysseus lands near Malapert A, tips over22 Feb 2024Complete.
  2. IM-2 Athena lands near the south pole on its side6 Mar 2025Complete.
  3. IM-3 to Reiner GammaNot yet reached.

Most important updates

  • 30 Jun 2026
  • 6 Mar 2025
  • 27 Feb 2025
  • Sep 2024
  • 22 Feb 2024

Current obstacles

  • Staying uprightBoth landers ended on their side, pointing to sensor problems and landing too fast on a tall, narrow design.

Physics limits

  • Tall landers topple on uneven groundA tall, narrow lander that is still drifting sideways or lands on a slope can tip. Both Nova-C landings ended on their sides; lowering the centre of gravity costs payload room.
  • Solar landers die in the lunar nightA lunar night lasts about 14 Earth days at about −170 °C. Without nuclear heat, batteries can't keep electronics alive that long, so missions end with sunset.
  • No air: landing is all rocket brakingCancelling about 1.7 km/s of orbital speed uses engines alone. Every kilogram of payload needs extra fuel, and there is no second attempt.

How it works

3 parts
The IM-1 Nova-C lander before launch: a tall body holding its super-cold methane and oxygen tanks, standing on six splayed legs
The IM-1 Nova-C lander before launch: a tall body holding its super-cold methane and oxygen tanks, standing on six splayed legsPhoto: NASA Marshall Space Flight Center / Intuitive Machines · Public domain (opens commons.wikimedia.org)
Engine

Super-cold methane and oxygen

Its main engine burns liquid methane and oxygen, stored cold, to brake from lunar orbit and hover to a landing.

Navigation

Finding the ground by itself

Cameras and laser rangefinders measure height and drift, since signals from Earth are too slow to fly it by hand.

Legs

Six legs, tall body

A 4 m tall hexagonal body on six legs carries payloads to the surface; it runs on solar power for about one lunar day.

Update log

6 updates

Tue 30 Jun

  • Minor: PressCommercial

Thu 6 Mar 2025

  • Major: PressTest

Thu 27 Feb 2025

  • Minor: OtherTest

Sep 2024

  • Major: PressCommercial

Thu 22 Feb 2024

  • Major: PressTest

Thu 15 Feb 2024

  • Minor: OtherTest

About Intuitive Machines

The team behind Nova-C

Intuitive Machines

Nova-C Moon landers, Moon comms

Intuitive Machines builds Nova-C Moon landers and Moon communications for NASA. In Jan 2026 it bought satellite maker Lanteris (formerly Maxar Space Systems) for $800M. Its IM-1 was the first US Moon landing since 1972.

  • IM-1 (Feb 2024) and IM-2 (Mar 2025) both landed but tipped onto their sides.
  • Has a NASA contract to relay data from the Moon.
  • Buying Lanteris makes it a bigger spacecraft builder.

intuitivemachines.com (opens intuitivemachines.com)Company profile →

Founded
201313 yrs
Headquarters
United States
Status
Public
Listed
LUNR (opens google.com)NASDAQ
Valuation
public
Works in
SpaceflightMoon & deep space
Coverage
1 program · 7 updateslatest 30 Jun 2026checked 25 Sep
Customers
NASA (opens nasa.gov)
Partners
Lanteris Space Systems (opens sec.gov)
People
Steve AltemusCo-founder and CEO
Primer