While prototypes of water-powered rocket thrusters and engines have been developed before, and a few have succeeded in launching CubeSats, water has not yet been used as a propellant on a large scale.

The motorized, battery-powered model is rechargeable ... to the moon and will hunt for lunar water on arrival. Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events ...

If all goes according to plan, the Athena lander will touch down near the moon's south pole on or around March 6.