SpaceX targeting 14th of February 💕 for IM-1 Mission
Learn more about goals, payload and how to watch the launch.
When is it happening?
Valentine's Day, actually! More specifically, SpaceX is targeting to liftoff from Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center from 12:57 a.m. EST on February 14th. In case weather conditions or other unforeseen developments forbid a launch on February 14th, SpaceX was allowed a three-day window to execute the launch, starting on Wednesday.
You can watch the launch live from their X (previously Twitter) broadcast here.
What about the payload?
IM-1 will send Odysseus, the Nova-C lander, to the moon for a 16-day mission. It is going to be the first-ever private landing on the moon, marking a milestone in private spaceflight and it's (hopefully) bright future, in case of success.
The 16-day mission is scheduled to consist of 9 days travelling to the moon, followed by a week (7 days) long stay on the lunar surface. The landing is supposed to take place near the lunar south pole, a spot on the moon that we don't know alot about, making this mission and gained insights even more valuable for human spaceflight as a whole.