New missions on the Moon are coming soon. And NASA is turning to Intuitive Machines to expand what’s possible.
What’s happening:
- Intuitive Machines (NASDAQ: LUNR) has announced they have been awarded the Near Space Network contract from NASA that has a maximum value of up to $4.82 billion
Why it matters:
- Intuitive Machines has been making historic breakthroughs in space, previously becoming the first for profit company to successfully land on the Moon and recently winning a separate NASA contract to deliver technology payloads to the Moon’s South Pole
Going deeper:
- The new contract from NASA will focus on Intuitive Machines scaling lunar landing capabilities to support cargo delivery, establishing a diverse network of satellites for the purpose of providing high resolution data and developing logistics for Moon exploration and operations
- NASA is primarily looking to scale up the infrastructure required to provide accurate data, mapping and communications for future Moon missions which will radically expand the possibilities of exploration compared to what has been previously possible with existing technology in orbit
By the numbers:
- The deal between Intuitive Machines and NASA is set to be paid out over 5 years, with $150M USD guaranteed and the option to extend the contract for an additional 5 years upon the successful completion of initial missions
The intrigue:
- The public markets have been getting excited about space recently with multiple companies beginning to make meaningful progress towards ambitious exploration missions, successful new satellite launches and significant government contracts
