NASA: Intuitive Machines 2024 Moon Landing

Odysseus passes over the near side of the Moon after entering lunar orbit insertion on February 21. Credit: Intuitive Machines

UPDATE: THE ODYSSEUS HAS LANDED

What Time Is The Moon Landing?

The first U.S. Moon landing in over 50 years is scheduled to occur today, Thursday, February 22, 2024, at 6:24 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

NASA coverage of the mission will begin at 5 p.m. on NASA+, NASA TV, and the space agency’s website.

Following a six-day journey after lifting off atop a Spacex Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, Intuitive Machines’ Odysseus lander completed lunar orbit insertion yesterday and will begin its descent toward the lunar surface today.

NASA says that Odysseus continues to be in excellent health and is approximately 60 miles (92km) from the Moon.

LN-1 has made three successful passes with NASA’s Deep Space Network, establishing real-time communications with ground stations on Earth.

Upon lunar touchdown, the LN-1 team will conduct a full systems checkout and begin continuous operations within 24 hours of landing.

NASA’s Deep Space Network will receive its transmissions, capturing telemetry, Doppler tracking, and other data and relaying it back to Earth.