Pic of the Week: The Launch of the IM-1 Mission

Image (Credit): Today’s launch of the Intuitive Machines IM-1 mission from the Kennedy Space Center. (Malcolm Denemark/Florida Today)

This week’s image shows the early morning launch of Intuitive Machines’ IM-1 mission via a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The rocket carries the Nova-C robotic lander, also called “Odysseus,” that includes both NASA and commercial payloads. If all goes well, the lander will be on the surface of the moon next week.

This image from Florida Today is unique in that it is a time exposure showing both the launch from the Kennedy Space Center as well as the booster landing shortly afterward.

Credit: Intuitive Machines