CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida: A new private lunar mission is on its way to the moon, as Intuitive Machines launched its second lander, Athena, this week. This time, the company aims for a precise touchdown near the moon's south pole and plans to deploy a drone into a permanently shadowed crater—an area believed to hold frozen water.

The SpaceX rocket carrying Athena blasted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, setting the stage for a March 6 landing. This follows Intuitive Machines' historic achievement last year when it became the first U.S. company in over 50 years to land on the moon. However, that mission ended with the lander tipping over upon touchdown, preventing full deployment of its instruments.

The Texas-based company has worked to fix past technical issues, ensuring Athena has a better chance of landing upright. Trent Martin, Intuitive Machines' senior vice president of space systems, acknowledged the challenges:

"Certainly, we will be better this time than we were last time. But you never know what could happen."

Unlike previous missions, Athena's success is crucial for NASA, which is paying $62 million for the lander to carry experiments, including a drill to collect lunar soil samples. A failed landing would prevent the release of key instruments, including two rovers and a drone named Grace.

If all goes as planned, Athena will land 100 miles from the lunar south pole. Just 400 meters away, a crater in permanent darkness awaits exploration by Grace—a small drone that will hop across the lunar surface using thrusters and navigation lasers.

Named after computer pioneer Grace Hopper, the drone will take three test flights before making its final descent into the 65-foot-deep crater. Scientists hope to confirm the presence of ice, which could serve as a resource for future lunar explorers by providing water, oxygen, and rocket fuel.

NASA is relying on private companies like Intuitive Machines and Firefly Aerospace to develop lunar technology ahead of its Artemis missions, which aim to return humans to the moon. The moon is now busier than ever, with spacecraft from Japan, India, China, and the U.S. attempting landings.

With competition growing, this mission could provide vital insights into the moon's hidden water reserves—a key resource for sustaining future lunar bases and deep-space exploration.