Exact Position of NASA Spacecraft Still Unknown After Landing Near Moon’s South Pole

NASA’s private partner Intuitive Machines planned for its craft to land on a lunar plateau near the south pole.

IM-2 Mission’s Nova-C lander, Athena, takes a picture during its descent to the lunar surface on March 6, 2025. (Screenshot/Courtesy of NASA).

Intuitive Machines’ NOVA-C lander, Athena, touched down on the moon on March 6, but no cheers rang out from the NOVA Control flight control room in Houston.

Speaking at the post-landing press conference later that day, the company’s CEO, Steve Altemus, said that his team are still trying to find out exactly where it landed, and if it is standing properly upright on the surface, and they might not know for a couple of days.