Intuitive Machines launches Athena: A new time of exploring the moon.

A private company called Intuitive Machines launched a lander named Athena to the moon. This is their second attempt, aiming to land closer to the moon's south pole.

Athena will land near a crater that never sees sunlight, carrying a drone named Grace. Grace will explore the crater, looking for frozen water that could be useful for future explorers.

Many other spacecraft are also headed to the moon, creating excitement in space exploration. Two US landers, including Athena, are carrying experiments for NASA's future human missions.

Intuitive Machines learned from their first attempt, where the lander tipped over on landing. They fixed the issues and are hopeful for a successful upright landing this time.

This mission is significant because only a few countries have successfully landed on the moon. Athena also carries other payloads, including a satellite to map water on the moon and a spacecraft to study an asteroid.