# @nasaartemis on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DGlxraiPN3R
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/26970450-nasaartemis-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/fafe665ef0.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-02-27T20:49:03.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** NASA Artemis (@nasaartemis) — https://gondola.cc/nasaartemis

## Caption

A look back at Earth before heading to the Moon.⁣
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IntuitiveMachines’ IM-2 mission successfully launched on Feb. 26 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASAKennedy. Athena carries NASA science and technology instruments, including an ice mining experiment, a drone that can hop in and out of craters, and a cellular communications system. The lunar lander is scheduled to land on a plateau in the Moon’s South Pole on Mar. 6. ⁣
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NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer spacecraft is catching a ride with Athena to get to lunar orbit, where it will map the distribution of different forms of water on the Moon. Lunar Trailblazer will discover where the Moon’s water is, what form it is in, and how it changes over time. ⁣
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The IM-2 mission is a part of our commercial lunar delivery initiative. Under Artemis, we are sending science to the Moon to better understand planetary processes and evolution, search for evidence of water and other resources, and support long-term, sustainable human exploration. ⁣
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Image description: Intuitive Machines’ NOVA-C lunar lander captures a selfie with Earth in the background shortly after separation. White clouds swirl around the blue surface of the Earth. The perspective of the image is from one of the lunar lander’s solar arrays. The words “Intuitive Machines” and “Columbia” can be seen on the lander. ⁣
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Credit: Intuitive Machines⁣
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#Artemis #Athena #Earth #IntuitiveMachines #SpaceX #Space #LunarLander #Selfie #Moon #LunarLander

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 12,453
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- **Comments:** 33

## Tags

earth, intuitivemachines, space, moon, lunarlander, artemis, spacex, athena, selfie

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