Intuitive Machines Selects SpaceX to Launch its Fourth Lunar Lander Mission and Lunar Data Relay Satellites
Intuitive Machines (Nasdaq: LUNR) has chosen SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket to launch its fourth lunar mission (IM-4) from Florida. The mission will include two lunar data relay satellites supporting NASA's Near Space Network Services (NSNS) contract.
The company plans to deploy a total of five lunar data relay satellites, with the first launching on their third mission to introduce a pay-by-the-minute service. The IM-4 mission, scheduled for 2027, will carry six NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) payloads, including a European Space Agency-led drill suite for water detection at the lunar south pole.
NASA has awarded Intuitive Machines multiple task orders under the NSNS contract to provide Direct-to-Earth services and a lunar data relay constellation supporting the Artemis campaign.
Intuitive Machines (Nasdaq: LUNR) ha scelto il razzo Falcon 9 di SpaceX per lanciare la sua quarta missione lunare (IM-4) dalla Florida. La missione includerà due satelliti di relay dati lunari a supporto del contratto dei servizi della NASA per la Rete Spaziale Vicina (NSNS).
L'azienda prevede di lanciare un totale di cinque satelliti di relay dati lunari, con il primo che verrà lanciato nella loro terza missione per introdurre un servizio a pagamento al minuto. La missione IM-4, programmata per il 2027, trasporterà sei payload dei Servizi Commerciali di Carico Lunare della NASA (CLPS), inclusi un'unità di perforazione guidata dall'Agenzia Spaziale Europea per la rilevazione dell'acqua al polo sud lunare.
La NASA ha assegnato a Intuitive Machines diversi ordini di lavoro nell'ambito del contratto NSNS per fornire servizi Diretti alla Terra e una costellazione di relay dati lunari a supporto della campagna Artemis.
Intuitive Machines (Nasdaq: LUNR) ha elegido el cohete Falcon 9 de SpaceX para lanzar su cuarta misión lunar (IM-4) desde Florida. La misión incluirá dos satélites de retransmisión de datos lunares que apoyan el contrato de Servicios de Red Espacial Cercana (NSNS) de la NASA.
La empresa planea desplegar un total de cinco satélites de retransmisión de datos lunares, siendo el primero lanzado en su tercera misión para introducir un servicio de pago por minuto. La misión IM-4, programada para 2027, llevará seis cargas útiles de los Servicios Comerciales de Carga Lunar de la NASA (CLPS), incluyendo un conjunto de perforación liderado por la Agencia Espacial Europea para la detección de agua en el polo sur lunar.
La NASA ha otorgado a Intuitive Machines múltiples órdenes de trabajo bajo el contrato NSNS para proporcionar servicios Directo a la Tierra y una constelación de retransmisión de datos lunares que apoya la campaña Artemis.
Intuitive Machines (Nasdaq: LUNR)는 플로리다에서 네 번째 달 미션(IM-4)을 발사하기 위해 SpaceX의 팔콘 9 로켓을 선택했습니다. 이 미션은 NASA의 근거리 우주 네트워크 서비스(NSNS) 계약을 지원하는 두 개의 달 데이터 중계 위성을 포함할 것입니다.
회사는 총 다섯 개의 달 데이터 중계 위성을 배치할 계획이며, 첫 번째 위성은 세 번째 미션에서 분당 요금 서비스 도입을 위해 발사될 것입니다. 2027년으로 예정된 IM-4 미션은 NASA 상업 달 화물 서비스(CLPS)의 여섯 개 페이로드를 운반하며, 유럽 우주국이 주도하는 물 탐지를 위한 드릴 장비를 포함합니다.
NASA는 Artemis 캠페인을 지원하는 달 데이터 중계 별자리를 제공하기 위해 NSNS 계약에 따라 Intuitive Machines에 여러 작업 지시서를 수여했습니다.
Intuitive Machines (Nasdaq: LUNR) a choisi la fusée Falcon 9 de SpaceX pour lancer sa quatrième mission lunaire (IM-4) depuis la Floride. La mission comprendra deux satellites de relais de données lunaires soutenant le contrat de la NASA pour les Services de Réseau Spatial Proche (NSNS).
L'entreprise prévoit de déployer un total de cinq satellites de relais de données lunaires, le premier étant lancé lors de leur troisième mission pour introduire un service payant à la minute. La mission IM-4, prévue pour 2027, transportera six charges utiles des Services Commerciaux de Charge Lunaire de la NASA (CLPS), y compris un ensemble de forage dirigé par l'Agence Spatiale Européenne pour la détection d'eau au pôle sud lunaire.
La NASA a attribué à Intuitive Machines plusieurs ordres de mission dans le cadre du contrat NSNS pour fournir des services Direct-à-Terre et une constellation de relais de données lunaires soutenant la campagne Artemis.
Intuitive Machines (Nasdaq: LUNR) hat die Falcon 9-Rakete von SpaceX ausgewählt, um seine vierte Mondmission (IM-4) von Florida aus zu starten. Die Mission umfasst zwei Monddaten-Relay-Satelliten, die den NASA-Diensten des Near Space Network Services (NSNS) Vertrages unterstützen.
Das Unternehmen plant, insgesamt fünf Monddaten-Relay-Satelliten zu starten, wobei der erste in der dritten Mission gestartet wird, um einen Minutenpreis-Service einzuführen. Die IM-4-Mission, die für 2027 geplant ist, wird sechs NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) Nutzlasten transportieren, darunter ein von der Europäischen Weltraumorganisation geleitetes Bohrgerät zur Wasserdetektion am südlichen Mondpol.
Die NASA hat Intuitive Machines mehrere Arbeitsaufträge im Rahmen des NSNS-Vertrags erteilt, um Direkt-zu-Erde-Dienste und eine Monddaten-Relay-Konstellation zur Unterstützung der Artemis-Kampagne bereitzustellen.
- Secured SpaceX launch contract for fourth lunar mission
- Expanding lunar data relay satellite constellation to five satellites
- Multiple NASA task orders awarded under NSNS contract
- Development of commercial pay-by-the-minute lunar communication service
- Long timeline to mission execution (scheduled for 2027)
- Significant capital investment required for satellite constellation deployment
Insights
Intuitive Machines' selection of SpaceX for its fourth lunar mission represents a significant advancement in the company's lunar commercialization strategy. This partnership for the IM-4 mission showcases Intuitive Machines' continued execution on its NASA contracts while establishing critical infrastructure for future revenue streams.
The planned deployment of lunar data relay satellites is particularly noteworthy as it demonstrates LUNR's evolution beyond mere lunar delivery to creating persistent lunar communication infrastructure. The company's "pay-by-the-minute" service model signals a strategic pivot toward recurring revenue opportunities that could eventually provide more stable cash flows than one-off delivery missions.
The NASA NSNS contract represents significant government validation of LUNR's communications architecture. By simultaneously serving both NASA requirements and creating capacity for commercial customers, Intuitive Machines is positioning itself as a key infrastructure provider in the emerging lunar economy.
While the 2027 timeline for IM-4 indicates a long-term execution horizon, this announcement establishes a clear roadmap for LUNR's satellite constellation development across multiple missions. The expansion from a single satellite on IM-3 to a complete five-satellite constellation demonstrates increasing scope and ambition in the company's lunar infrastructure development.
HOUSTON, April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Intuitive Machines, Inc. (Nasdaq: LUNR, LUNRW) (“Intuitive Machines”) (“Company”), a leading space exploration, infrastructure, and services company, has recently selected SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket to launch its fourth lunar delivery mission (“IM-4”) from Florida. The IM-4 mission is expected to include the launch of two lunar data relay satellites intended to support NASA’s Near Space Network Services (“NSNS”) contract.
“Lunar surface delivery and data relay satellites are central to our strategy to commercialize the Moon,” said Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus. “In addition to the contracted NSNS service, the satellites are capable of hosting additional payloads and science sensors to serve commercial industry and other government customers. We plan to deploy the first of five lunar data relay satellites on our third mission, which will introduce our pay-by-the-minute service. The two additional satellites on our fourth mission are intended to scale that service, followed by two additional deployments to complete the constellation and fully support NASA and commercial lunar operations.”
As previously announced, the IM-4 surface delivery mission is currently scheduled for 2027 and is set to carry six NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (“CLPS”) initiative payloads, including a European Space Agency-led drill suite designed to search for water at the lunar south pole.
NASA has awarded Intuitive Machines multiple task orders under the agency’s NSNS contract for communication and navigation services. The awards call for Intuitive Machines to provide Direct-to-Earth (“DTE”) services and a lunar data relay constellation to support NASA’s Artemis campaign.
About Intuitive Machines
Intuitive Machines is a diversified space technology, infrastructure, and services company focused on fundamentally disrupting lunar access economics. In 2024, Intuitive Machines successfully soft-landed the Company’s Nova-C class lunar lander on the Moon, returning the United States to the lunar surface for the first time since 1972. In 2025, Intuitive Machines returned to the lunar south pole with a second lander. The Company’s products and services are focused through three pillars of space commercialization: Delivery Services, Data Transmission Services, and Infrastructure as a Service. For more information, please visit intuitivemachines.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These statements that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “strive,” “would,” “strategy,” “outlook,” the negative of these words or other similar expressions, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements include but are not limited to statements regarding: our expectations, results and plans relating to our future mission to the Moon and our lunar data relay satellites. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s predictions, projections, or expectations based upon currently available information and data. Our actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The following important factors and uncertainties, among others, could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements in this press release: any delayed launches, launch failures, failure of our satellites or lunar landers to reach their planned orbital locations, risks associated with commercial spaceflight, including any accident on launch or during the journey into space; risks associated with the handling, production and disposition of potentially explosive and ignitable energetic materials and other dangerous chemicals in our operations; failure of our products to operate in the expected manner or defects in our sub-systems; failure to comply with various laws and regulations relating to various aspects of our business; and other public filings and press releases other factors detailed under the section titled Part I, Item 2, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the section titled Part II. Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in our most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q our Current Reports on Form 8-K, and in our subsequent filings with the SEC, which are accessible on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this press release and current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions, and involve a number of judgments, risks, and uncertainties. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date, and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
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