A publicly traded company is getting one step closer to reaching the moon.

‍What’s happening:‍

• Houston, Texas based space company Intuitive Machines (NASDAQ: LUNR) has successfully completed the launch of their IM-1 mission
  
• The launch was done in collaboration with Elon Musk’s SpaceX and has successfully sent Intuitive Machine’s into orbit to reach the moon
  

Why it matters:‍

• The recent launch represents important validation for Intuitive Machine’s technology and future ability to successfully reach the moon
  
• Intuitive Machines currently has an existing partnership with NASA to deliver payloads to the moon using their purpose built technology
  

Going deeper:‍

• This is the first ever attempted lunar landing mission for Intuitive Machines as part of NASA’s Commercial Payload Lunar Services
  
• The underlying science and technology payloads being validated on this mission are a critical part of future human missions and developing a lunar presence
  

Market reaction:‍

• Intuitive Machine shares were up +45% since announcing the successful launch into orbit

‍