Live coverage: Mission control loses contact with Indian moon lander

Intuitive Machines confirmed plans Wednesday to launch a commercial lunar lander aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Florida’s Space Coast in 2021 on a mission to deliver multiple payloads to the moon, including up to five science instruments for NASA.

A Chinese spacecraft launched in October has settled into a circular orbit around the moon for rendezvous simulations and reconnaissance to prepare for a planned lunar sample return mission, according to state media reports.

Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket, a commercially-developed light-class booster, lifted off at 1:33 a.m. EST (0633 GMT) Sunday, carrying 13 CubeSats into orbit under contract to NASA.