How to Watch the Launch of Intuitive Machiness Second Moon Landing Mission

Intuitive Machines landed a robot on the moon last year.Can the Houston company do it again, but keep the spacecraft upright this time?When the spacecraft, named Odysseus, set down on the moon last February, it managed to communicate with Earth even though it had toppled on its side.

It was the first commercially operated lander to reach the moon’s surface, and the first American vehicle to land softly on the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972.The company’s second lander, named Athena, is now on the launchpad.Here’s what you need to know about Wednesday’s flight.When is the launch, and how can I watch it?Athena and three other spacecraft will launch on top of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Launch is scheduled for 7:16 p.m.Eastern time on Feb.

26.There is a greater than 95 percent chance of favorable weather.If weather or technical issues arise, backup opportunities will be available during a four-day launch window.

After that, the mission would have to be delayed by a month.NASA will provide coverage of the launch beginning about 45 minutes before liftoff.Where is Athena going?If the launch occurs Wednesday, the Intuitive Machines spacecraft will try to land on March 6 in Mons Mouton, a region about 100 miles from the moon’s south pole.That will be closer to the south pole than any previous lunar lander.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe....