Intuitive Machines, headquartered in Houston, has initiated its inaugural lunar lander mission bound for the Moon's South Pole from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The spacecraft, dubbed Odysseus, was propelled into space using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Scheduled for a touchdown on February 22, the firm anticipates a successful landing near the Moon's South Pole.

During the ascent to the Moon, the rocket booster returned safely to Earth, marking a significant milestone in space exploration. This venture could potentially mark the first successful lunar landing by a private company, pending a smooth execution of the mission.