Intuitive Machines is set to land its second spacecraft on the moon on Thursday, roughly a year after the Houston-based company became the first in history to land a commercial lander intact on the lunar surface – albeit on the vehicle’s side.

Intuitive Machines sent final commands to its uncrewed Athena spacecraft on Thursday as it closed in on a landing spot near the moon's south pole, the company's second attempt to score a clean touchdown after making a lopsided landing last year.