IM-3

{{About|the 2026 lunar landing mission|other uses|IM3 (disambiguation){{!}}IM3}}

{{infobox spaceflight

| name = IM-3

| names_list = IM-3
CLPS CP-11
CP-11

| image = Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lunar lander (IM 00309) (cropped).jpg

| image_caption =

| image_size =

| insignia = IM-3 insignia.png

| insignia_caption = IM-3 mission insignia
Motto: MAGNETICAM LUNAM
(Magnetic Moon)

| mission_type = Lunar landing

| operator = Intuitive Machines

| COSPAR_ID =

| SATCAT =

| mission_duration =

| spacecraft =

| spacecraft_type = Nova-C

| manufacturer = Intuitive Machines

| launch_mass =

| launch_date = First Half {{start-date|2026}} UTC

| launch_rocket = Falcon 9 Block 5

| launch_site = Kennedy LC-39A

| last_contact =

| interplanetary = {{Infobox spaceflight/IP

|type = lander

|object = Lunar

|arrival_date =

|location = Reiner Gamma

}}

| programme = Intuitive Machines Nova-C

| previous_mission = IM-2 (Athena)

| next_mission = IM-4

| programme2 = Commercial Lunar Payload Services

| previous_mission2 = Griffin Mission 1

| next_mission2 = iSpace Mission 3

}}

IM-3 is an upcoming lunar mission planned for first half 2026 by Intuitive Machines for NASA's CLPS program, using a Nova-C lunar lander.

Background

File:CADRE_ATLO_Team_Presents_Completed_Rovers.jpg

NASA selected a Nova-C mission for CLPS task order CP-11.{{cite web |title=NASA Payloads for (CLPS PRISM) CP-11 – Intuitive Machines Nova-C Lander |url=https://science.nasa.gov/lunar-science/clps-deliveries/cp-11/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227025132/https://science.nasa.gov/lunar-science/clps-deliveries/cp-11/ |archive-date=27 February 2024 |access-date=3 March 2024 |publisher=NASA}} It will deliver payloads to the lunar swirl in the Reiner Gamma region.{{cite web |date=17 November 2021 |title=NASA Selects Intuitive Machines to Deliver 4 Lunar Payloads in 2024 |url=https://www.intuitivemachines.com/post/nasa-selects-intuitive-machines-to-deliver-4-lunar-payloads-in-2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003234537/https://www.intuitivemachines.com/post/nasa-selects-intuitive-machines-to-deliver-4-lunar-payloads-in-2024 |archive-date=3 October 2023 |access-date=17 November 2021 |work=Intuitive Machines}} In August 2021, Intuitive Machines selected SpaceX to launch its third lunar mission, IM-3.{{cite web |date=10 August 2021 |title=Three-peat: Intuitive Machines Selects SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket for Third Moon Mission |url=https://www.intuitivemachines.com/post/three-peat-intuitive-machines-selects-spacex-falcon-9-rocket-for-third-moon-mission |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220212224827/https://www.intuitivemachines.com/post/three-peat-intuitive-machines-selects-spacex-falcon-9-rocket-for-third-moon-mission |archive-date=12 February 2022 |access-date=10 August 2021 |publisher=Intuitive Machines}} As of 13 May 2025, the launch of IM-3 is expected to take place in first half 2026.{{cite press release |title=Intuitive Machines Reports First Quarter 2025 Financial Results |date=13 May 2025|url=https://investors.intuitivemachines.com/news-releases/news-release-details/intuitive-machines-reports-first-quarter-2025-financial-results |access-date=2 June 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250518174031/https://investors.intuitivemachines.com/news-releases/news-release-details/intuitive-machines-reports-first-quarter-2025-financial-results |archive-date=18 May 2025}} The lander will conduct experiments investigating the properties of the unexpected magnetic field that has been detected in the vicinity of the Reiner Gamma swirl.[https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-selects-intuitive-machines-for-new-lunar-science-delivery/ NASA Selects Intuitive Machines for New Lunar Science Delivery] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117150602/https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-selects-intuitive-machines-for-new-lunar-science-delivery/|date=17 November 2023}} By Karen Fox et. al. Nov.17, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2024.

Mission hardware

The Reiner Gamma landing site was announced for the first PRISM opportunity and the JHU Applied Physics Laboratory's Lunar Vertex payload was selected to conducted a detailed scientific analysis of the surface and surface environment. David Blewett (APL) is the principal investigator and leads the science team. Lunar Vertex includes payload elements on the Nova-C lander (APL magnetometer, SwRI plasma spectrometer, and Redwire camera arrays) and on a Lunar Outpost rover (APL magnetometer and Canadensys microscopic imager). APL also provided overall management, systems engineer, SMA, and rover integration and testing.{{Cite web |title=Lunar Vertex: Solving Mysteries Swirling Around the Moon's Magnetic Regions {{!}} Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory |url=https://www.jhuapl.edu/news/news-releases/211018b-lunar-vertex |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=www.jhuapl.edu |language=en}}

Additional IM-3 payloads include the Cooperative Autonomous Distributed Robotic Explorers (CADRE) rovers, ESA's MoonLIGHT Pointing Actuator (MPAc) and KASI's Lunar Space Environment Monitor (LUSEM).