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Intuitive Machines is using the funding to accelerate the readiness of compact nuclear power conversion technology that overcomes solar power limitations and enables longer missions on the Moon and in deep space.
Intuitive Machines successfully completed a Preliminary Design Review in September for the Stirling-based power conversion system.
With new funding, Intuitive Machines will begin preparing the nuclear power system for flight to demonstrate space-based nuclear power in orbit.
Intuitive Machines has been studying high-powered nuclear fission-based systems under contract to the Department of Energy with funding from NASA’s Fission Surface Power project.
Tim Crain, Ph.D., co-founder and chief growth officer for Intuitive Machines, emphasized that the contract advancement from design to flight hardware is critical for proving compact nuclear power systems can survive and perform in space.
Intuitive Machines previously received a $9.5 million award under an AFRL program to develop compact nuclear power systems for space applications.
Intuitive Machines is developing reliable, scalable energy systems like Stirling engines that provide continuous power and heat in a smaller package.
Intuitive Machines is vertically integrated across space data, infrastructure, and delivery services to rapidly innovate and deliver high-performance technologies for sustained operations in space.
Intuitive Machines, Inc. has received an $8.2 million contract extension from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory’s Space Vehicles Directorate to develop next-generation nuclear power systems for spacecraft and lunar infrastructure.
Intuitive Machines is developing a lunar ascent strategy using the Nova-D lander.
NASA's PRIME-1 drill was unable to excavate lunar water due to an unsuccessful landing attempt by Intuitive Machines.
NASA has two CLPS missions targeted for a 2026 launch: Firefly’s Blue Ghost Mission 2 and Intuitive Machines’ IM-3 mission.
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.
Astrobotic Technology, Intuitive Machines, Firefly Aerospace, and ispace are currently engaged in lunar lander missions, all using small landers.
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 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.
Intuitive Machines has achieved Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) Maturity Level 3.