SpaceX rocket blasts off to the Moon’s mysterious south pole that could pave the way for human missions in 2026

SPACEX has successfully launched the Odysseus lunar lander, in what could be the start of the first US Moon landing in 50 years.

The Nova-C Odysseus will now embark on a week-long journey to the lunar surface.

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The lander, built by Texas-based Intuitive Machines, aims to be the first private lunar lander to touchdown on the Moon.

The launch was initially scheduled for Valentine's Day (14 February), however, it was postponed due to an issue with the fuel temperatures.

The 1,488lb (675kg) spacecraft blasted off aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 6:05am GMT (1:05am ET).

Onboard the lander are 12 payloads, including a next-gen four-camera system to capture the journey down to the surface and landing sensors built in the UK by a company called MDA.

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Should all go to plan, the spacecraft will make a lunar landing attempt on 22 February.

Once it's on the surface, Odysseus will operate for just two weeks - or one lunar night.

It comes just weeks after US lunar lander Peregrine, failed to reach the surface following a fuel leak.

Peregrine disintegrated upon reentry to Earth's atmosphere just 10 days after its launch.

Mysterious South Pole

Intuitive Machines is targeting a crater near the south pole, known as Malapert A, as the landing site.

This most recent push to the Moon is part of Nasa’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative, which aims to involve commercial companies in the exploration of the lunar surface.

Nasa's Artemis III mission - the first human assignment on the Moon since Apollo 17 - will also explore the region near the lunar south pole.

Nasa has been channeling its efforts - and cash - into getting astronauts back on the Moon in recent years.

It forms parts of a decade-long programme that is hoped to culminate with a permanent lunar base, which Nasa may begin building by the end of the decade.

As part of this mission, the space agency has ushered in private industry to keep the sector busy with rocket launches and lunar landers.

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