Intuitive Machines is an American space exploration company that provides lunar surface access, payload delivery, and data transmission services. As a NASA CLPS partner, they design and build lunar landers like Nova-C to transport payloads to the Moon. Their customers include NASA, for whom they deliver science instruments and technology demonstrations as part of the Artemis program, and they are developing lunar data relay satellites. Intuitive Machines aims to commercialize the Moon through infrastructure and services.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
NASA has two CLPS missions targeted for a 2026 launch: Firefly’s Blue Ghost Mission 2 and Intuitive Machines’ IM-3 mission.
Astrobotic Technology, Intuitive Machines, Firefly Aerospace, and ispace are currently engaged in lunar lander missions, all using small landers.
NASA selected three companies, Venturi Astrolab, Lunar Outpost, and Intuitive Machines, for LTV development in April 2024.
Trent Martin, Senior Vice President of Space Systems at Intuitive Machines, believes that contracting with two companies is a wise approach from a governmental perspective to prevent potential contract cancellations.
Intuitive Machines has well-defined and consistently applied engineering processes.
CMMI Maturity Level 3 certifies that Intuitive Machines meets NASA’s standards for Class A human spaceflight.
NASA awarded contracts to Venturi Astrolab, Lunar Outpost, and Intuitive Machines in April 2024 to work on feasibility studies for the next-gen Moon vehicles.
Trent Martin, the SVP of space systems at Intuitive Machines, stated that awarding two contracts would protect against the risk of relying on a single contractor.
Intuitive Machines has achieved Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) Maturity Level 3.
The acquisition will allow Intuitive Machines to provide secure communications and precision navigation for lunar and interplanetary missions.
Intuitive Machines has acquired KinetX for $30 million, enhancing its capabilities in deep space navigation and mission design.
The acquisition extends Intuitive Machines’ infrastructure footprint across Houston, Phoenix, and Maryland.
$15 million of the acquisition amount was paid in cash, and the remainder was covered by approximately 1.4 million shares of Intuitive Machines common stock.
Intuitive Machines was established in 2013 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
KinetX Aerospace has worked on NASA missions, including two lunar landings by Intuitive Machines, as well as satellite constellation management for the U.S. military and private companies.
Intuitive Machines completed the acquisition of KinetX Aerospace for $30 million on October 1, 2023.
Steve Altemus is the founder and CEO of Intuitive Machines.
Intuitive Machines is planning two lunar landing missions, IM-1 (Odysseus) in 2024 and IM-2 (Athena) in March 2025, with both landers expected to land but then tip over.
On the morning of the acquisition announcement, Intuitive Machines' stock price temporarily rose by about 6% but returned to nearly the same level by the end of trading.
Intuitive Machines emphasizes the development of data relay systems in the vicinity of the Moon and in deep space.