It was July 20th, 1969 when man first landed on the moon.

On this February 22nd, 2024 a smooth touchdown by a private U.S. lunar lander would return the U.S. to the moon’s surface for the first time since NASA astronauts closed out the Apollo program in 1972.

Intuitive Machines’ spacecraft launched last week and reached the moon’s orbit Wednesday.

NASA decision makers announced a couple of years ago the most efficient way to explore the moon was, “we’re going to give you some money and you figure out how to put a lander on the moon.”

So, several companies took them up on this invitation and they’re all sending landers to the south pole of the moon to explore and see what’s there because NASA wants the information before sending astronauts to that part of the moon.

Thursday’s touchdown is expected to take place no sooner than 5:49pm ET.