IM-3
2026 lunar landing mission
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
IM-3 is an upcoming lunar mission planned for the second half 2026 by Intuitive Machines for NASA's CLPS program, using a Nova-C lunar lander.
_(cropped).jpg) IM-1 Odysseus, a Nova-C lander similar to IM-3 | |
| Names | IM-3 CLPS CP-11 CP-11 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Lunar landing |
| Operator | Intuitive Machines |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | Nova-C |
| Manufacturer | Intuitive Machines |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | First Half 2026 UTC |
| Rocket | Falcon 9 Block 5 |
| Launch site | Kennedy LC-39A |
| Lunar lander | |
| Landing site | Reiner Gamma |
 IM-3 mission insignia Motto: MAGNETICAM LUNAM (Magnetic Moon) | |
Background
NASA selected a Nova-C mission for CLPS task order CP-11.[1] It will deliver payloads to the lunar swirl in the Reiner Gamma region.[2] In August 2021, Intuitive Machines selected SpaceX to launch its third lunar mission, IM-3.[3] As of 7 January 2026, the launch of IM-3 is expected to take place in second half 2026.[4][5] The lander will conduct experiments investigating the properties of the unexpected magnetic field that has been detected in the vicinity of the Reiner Gamma swirl.[6]
Mission hardware
The Reiner Gamma landing site was announced for the first PRISM opportunity and the JHU Applied Physics Laboratory's Lunar Vertex payload was selected to conduct a detailed scientific analysis of the surface and surface environment. David Blewett (APL) is the principal investigator and leads the science team. Lunar Vertex includes payload elements on the Nova-C lander (APL magnetometer, SwRI plasma spectrometer, and Redwire camera arrays) and on a Lunar Outpost rover (APL magnetometer and Canadensys microscopic imager). APL also provided overall management, systems engineer, SMA, and rover integration and testing.[7]
Additional IM-3 payloads include the Cooperative Autonomous Distributed Robotic Explorers (CADRE) rovers, ESA's MoonLIGHT Pointing Actuator (MPAc), KASI's Lunar Space Environment Monitor (LUSEM)[1], and AstroForge's Vestri.[8]
In 2024 the Intuitive Machines chief executive indicated that in addition to the lander, the IM-3 mission might deliver a data-relay satellite to lunar orbit.[9] NASA asserts, "Lunar relays will play an essential role in NASA’s Artemis campaign to establish a long-term presence on the Moon."[10] Additional reporting in 2025 indicated this work will be performed under a Near Space Network Services contract that NASA had previously awarded to Intuitive Machines.[11]
In December 2025, ASA funded organisation Lunaria One[12] was approved to add the Australian Lunar Experiment Promoting Horticulture (ALEPH-1) payload which will test plant growth and survival in the lunar environment. [13]