With two commercial moon landers already on their way, Houston-based Intuitive Machines launched its second robotic lander atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket Wednesday, the centerpiece of a multi-element NASA-sponsored mission to help pave the way for human expeditions.

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.

A private company launched another lunar lander Wednesday, aiming to get closer to the moon’s south pole this time with a drone that will hop into a jet-black crater that never sees the sun.Intuitive Machines’ lander,

SpaceX has launched another lunar lander, named Athena, with the mission to deliver groundbreaking technology to the south pole of the moon. CBS News' Mark Strassmann has more.

The company reached the lunar surface in 2024, and now its second lander aims to improve on the feat. Three other spacecraft also hitched a ride on the SpaceX rocket.

Intuitive Machines’ spacecraft is set to launch atop a SpaceX rocket Wednesday, aiming to land closer to the moon’s south pole than any vehicle has traveled before.

Intuitive Machines was set on Wednesday for the launch of its second moon lander, aiming to make the latest private U.S. moonshot one year after the space company's first lunar mission ended early with a lopsided landing.

Intuitive Machines out of Texas is sending a second lunar lander, this time Athena, to the moon, where it will drill for water, ice and other gases.

Mission, which includes the "Athena" lunar lander developed by Intuitive Machines in Houston, is scheduled to blast off on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to the Moon as soon as Wednesday.

Intuitive Machines made history last year as the first private company to put a robot on the moon, although the triumph was marred by the lander tipping onto its side.