The Intuitive Machines IM-1 Nova-C lander is scheduled to launch toward the Moon no earlier than 13 February 2024. The IM-1 landing will occur about one week after the launch.
A full resolution Wide Angle Camera context map showing the IM-1 landing area is available at this link. The white square (center top) indicates the location of the NAC map (seen above and below) [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].
The landing area is within 300 kilometers of the south pole, between the craters Malapert C and Malapert B and east of Malapert A, in relatively ancient terrain within the South Pole Aitken basin.
Oblique image showing the IM-1 landing area, acquired from an altitude of 78 kilometers with a slew angle of 64° on 2023-04-02. North is to the right, 57 kilometers wide at the center, LROC NAC M1435077792LR [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].
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Published by Mark Robinson on 19 January 2024