Houston-based Intuitive Machines has officially set the launch date for its inaugural Nova-C lunar lander mission at February 14th, 2024. The spacecraft is slated to lift off atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket during an initial window opening at 8:57am Moscow time, part of the company’s ambitious program under NASA's CLPS initiative to return payloads to the Moon.

Nova-C, also called IM-1, recently completed final integration and checkouts before encapsulation within the Falcon 9 payload fairing. Its target lunar site lies within the Malapert crater region harboring great scientific interest and eyed as a candidate for future crewed Artemis landings.

If successful, Nova-C would signify the first American moon landing since Apollo 17 in 1972. It carries 6 NASA experiments mainly studying simulated lander impacts and the resulting interactions with lunar surface materials.

A secondary goal includes deploying a cubesat christened Lunar Node 1 into orbit around the Moon to test communications relay capabilities aiding future surface assets. Its trajectory and instrument testing can provide key data aiding both robotic and eventual astronaut return missions to Earth’s lone natural satellite.

While the initial February 14th window remains open for days, Intuitive Machines hopes to launch at the very start barring issues. The timing caters to optimal lunar positioning and prevents conflict with SpaceX’s next astronaut launch to the ISS on February 22nd.

Interest is particularly high given the crash landing demise of competitor Astrobotic’s Peregrine lander last year after similar extensive development. All eyes turn to Nova-C and whether Intuitive Machines can stick the landing where others have recently failed, catalyzing a new generation of lunar exploration.