NSSDCA ID: PRIME-1
The objective of the Intuitive Machines 2, or IM-2 (TO PRIME-1) mission is to land a drill and mass spectrometer (Polar Resources Ice Mining Experiment-1, or PRIME-1) near the south pole of the Moon in order to demonstrate the feasibility of in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) and measure the volatile content of subsurface samples. The mission is scheduled to launch on a Falcon 9 in 2024, on the NOVA-C landing platform developed by Intuitive Machines for lunar landing under NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, in which NASA contracts with a commercial partner, in this case Intuitive Machines, that provides the launch and lander. The Lunar Trailblazer mission is scheduled to be a secondary spacecraft on this launch.
The Nova-C Lander is a tall hexagonal cylinder on 6 landing legs. It is capable of carrying 100 to 130 kg of payload to the surface. It uses solar panels to generate 200 W of power on the surface. Propulsion and landing use liquid methane as fuel and liquid oxygen as an oxidizer. The PRIME-1 mission has two primary components, The Regolith and Ice Drill for Exploring New Terrain (TRIDENT) and the Mass Spectrometer observing lunar operations (MSolo). TRIDENT is an augering drill approximately 1 meter long. The drill is able to stop at any depth as commanded from the ground and deposit its sample on the surface for analysis. MSolo is a commercial off the shelf (COTS) mass spectrometer modified for spaceflight and lunar operations. Total PRIME-1 payload mass is about 40 kg.
After launch on the Falcon 9, scheduled for 2024, the Nova-C lander will touch down at the Shackleton connecting ridge, near Shackleton Crater close to the south pole and begin drilling operations. The mission will also carry a lunar "hopper" designed to carry a one-kilogram payload across the lunar surface for a distence up to 2.5 km. It is planned to operate inside a permanently shadowed region, take images, and measure temperatures. In addition, it will carry a Nokia LTE 4G communications test experiment.
For more on NASA's CLPS initiative and missions, see:
https://science.nasa.gov/lunar-discovery/deliveries
Image credit: Intuitive Machines
Launch Date:
Launch Vehicle: Falcon 9
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral, United States
Nominal Power: 200 W
Questions and comments about this spacecraft can be directed to: Dr. David R. Williams
Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
Dr. Susan Lederer | Project Scientist | NASA Johnson Space Center | susan.m.lederer@nasa.gov |
Dr. Jacqueline Quinn | Program Manager | NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center | jacqueline.w.quinn@nasa.gov |
Dr. Janine Captain | Program Scientist | NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center | Janine.e.captain@nasa.gov |