NASA is preparing two significant lunar missions, CADRE and PRIME-1, both slated to launch aboard Intuitive Machines landers. The CADRE (Cooperative Autonomous Distributed Robotic Exploration) mission, featuring suitcase-sized, solar-powered rovers, is scheduled for launch no earlier than early 2026 on the IM-3 mission. These rovers will analyze the lunar surface and subsurface in the Reiner Gamma region, testing autonomous operation capabilities. The hardware was completed and tested by February 2024 and shipped to Intuitive Machines' Houston facility.
The PRIME-1 (Polar Resources Ice Mining Experiment-1) mission, launching no earlier than February 26, will explore the Moon's South Pole aboard the Athena lander. It will use the TRIDENT drill, developed by Honeybee Robotics, to extract lunar soil samples up to 3.3 feet deep. The MSOLO mass spectrometer will analyze these samples for water ice and other gases. This experiment aims to understand lunar resources for sustainable human exploration under the Artemis campaign.
Both missions are part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, which invests in commercial delivery services to the Moon. CADRE will test novel software for autonomous robotic operation, while PRIME-1 will demonstrate the ability to extract and analyze lunar soil, providing data for future lunar resource utilization.
The CADRE mission package, including rovers, a base station, and a camera system, will be integrated with the lander. The TRIDENT drill is equipped with carbide cutting teeth and will be controlled from Earth, providing insights into subsurface soil temperatures and mechanical properties. MSOLO, developed by INFICON, will analyze gases released from drilled samples.