Intuitive Machines may launch a commercial lunar lander mission

NASA has relied on private companies to create new capabilities for the government agency, such as building spacecraft to carry astronauts and cargo to orbit. It is now trying a similar approach for transporting scientific instruments to the moon. A Houston company, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/31/science/nasa-moon.html?smid=spacecal">Intuitive Machines, may launch its IM-1 mission</a>, using its Nova-C spacecraft to carry payloads to the lunar South Pole region, potentially making it the second spacecraft to land there. Intuitive Machines, flying on a SpaceX rocket, says it will launch as soon as Nov. 15.