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.