The final burn of Intuitive Machines’ IM-2 lunar lander has begun. Powered descent initiation is a main engine firing that will take about 12 minutes. It’s designed to slow the lander’s speed in preparation for final descent moments before touchdown.
During this phase, the lander must slow down by about 4,000 miles per hour (1,800 meters per second). As the lander approaches the landing site and comes down from orbit, it will move to a vertical upright position to start descending down to the surface.
