The company reached the lunar surface in 2024, and now its second lander aims to improve on the feat. Three other spacecraft also hitched a ride on the SpaceX rocket.

Intuitive Machines' second moon lander was launched on Wednesday atop a SpaceX rocket, setting off for the latest private U.S. moonshot one year after the company's first attempt ended early with a lopsided landing.

Houston-based Intuitive Machines successfully completed the second launch of its lunar lander mission at 7:17 p.m. EST Wednesday from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.