Intuitive Machines facts for kids
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Lunar Operations Facility at Houston Spaceport
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| Public | |
| Traded as | NASDAQ: LUNR |
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | 2013 |
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| Headquarters |
Houston, Texas
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U.S.
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Key people
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| Products | Lunar lander, Mission Control Center, Ground stations, additive manufacturing |
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Number of employees
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400 (2024) |
Intuitive Machines, Inc. is an American company that explores space. It is based in Houston, Texas. The company was started in 2013 by Stephen Altemus, Kam Ghaffarian, and Tim Crain. Their main goal was to help with commercial and government missions to the Moon.
Today, Intuitive Machines helps deliver things to the Moon's surface. They also provide ways to send data and offer special services for space equipment. NASA has given Intuitive Machines three contracts to deliver important science tools to the Moon. This is part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. Intuitive Machines is also one of three companies chosen by NASA to work on future Lunar Terrain Vehicles (LTVs).
In February 2023, Intuitive Machines became a public company. This means its shares can be bought and sold on the stock market. Its shares are traded on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the symbol LUNR.
Intuitive Machines has a program called Lunar Payload Delivery Services (LPDS). This program aims to make it easier for companies to access the Moon. NASA chose this program for four lunar missions. In February 2024, Intuitive Machines' Odysseus lander made a soft landing on the Moon. However, it tipped over and could only send back a little data before losing contact. Even so, Odysseus was the first American spacecraft to land on the Moon since the Apollo Program. Many experts see this mission as a partial success. The next mission, IM-2 with the Athena lander, also tipped over in March 2025. This was due to problems with its laser altimeter.
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History of Intuitive Machines
Intuitive Machines, Inc. was founded in 2013. The founders were Stephen Altemus, Kam Ghaffarian, and Tim Crain. They wanted to help with both business and government missions to the Moon. The company is based in Houston, Texas.
In February 2023, Intuitive Machines joined with another company called Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. This made Intuitive Machines a public company. Its stock started trading on the Nasdaq stock exchange on February 14, 2023.
What Intuitive Machines Does
Intuitive Machines helps build a lunar economy. They do this in three main ways:
- Transporting and Delivering Payloads: They carry things like satellites, science tools, and other cargo to the Moon. This includes sharing space on their rockets and helping land on the Moon's surface.
- Collecting Space Data: They gather and understand data from space. This involves controlling missions, communicating, exploring, and looking for resources.
- Lunar Surface Infrastructure: They set up equipment on the Moon that can work on its own. This equipment can help with navigation, maintenance, collecting science data, and checking how systems are working.
The Nova-C Lander
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In November 2018, NASA chose Intuitive Machines as one of nine companies. These companies could bid on the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. Their lander, called Nova-C, was part of the first CLPS mission. This mission focused on exploring and using the Moon's natural resources.
On May 31, 2019, NASA announced it would pay Intuitive Machines $77 million. This money was for building and launching their Nova-C Moon lander.
In April 2020, Intuitive Machines said its first lunar mission would aim for a deep valley. This valley is called Vallis Schröteri. The mission's goal was to land the Nova-C spacecraft near the Moon's south pole, at a crater named Malapert A.
Lunar Missions by Intuitive Machines
IM-1 Mission: Odysseus
Intuitive Machines had a contract with NASA for this mission. It involved carrying five NASA science tools and other items for companies to the Moon. The company launched its first mission using a Nova-C lander. The journey to the Moon took seven days.
On February 22, 2024, Intuitive Machines' Odysseus lander touched down on the Moon. It landed hard and tipped over. Because of this, it could only send back a small amount of data before losing communication. Even though it did not meet all its goals, Odysseus was the first American spacecraft to land on the Moon since the Apollo Program. The lander worked for six days in total.
The Odysseus lander fell on its side during landing. However, some of its instruments still worked. This meant the mission was seen as a success by Intuitive Machines and NASA.
IM-2 Mission: Athena
The IM-2 Athena mission launched on February 27, 2025. It carried a small rover called Micro-Nova Gracie and other tools. This mission was designed to test equipment for finding water on the Moon. It also tested mobility services, like the Micro-Nova hopper. This hopper is designed to jump across the Moon's surface to explore.
The Athena lander made a soft landing on March 6, 2025. But it landed on its side, which stopped it from recharging or deploying its tools. Operations ended on March 7, 2025, less than 13 hours after landing. Intuitive Machines later shared that, like the IM-1 mission, the Athena lander's altimeter failed during landing. This meant the computer did not know its exact height. The spacecraft hit a raised area, tipped over, and slid into a crater. The impact also covered its solar panels with dust, making them work less well.
IM-3 Mission: Future Plans
The third lunar delivery mission is being tested. It is expected to launch in early 2026. This mission plans to deploy the first of five data relay satellites. These satellites will help send data around the Moon.
IM-4 Mission: More Satellites
The fourth mission to the Moon's surface will deliver two more data relay satellites. NASA awarded Intuitive Machines this contract in September 2024. This mission will also carry six NASA tools and a drill from the European Space Agency. This drill will search for water ice at the Moon's south pole.
Near Space Network Services (NSNS)
In September 2024, Intuitive Machines became the only company chosen for the Near Space Network Services (NSNS) contract. This contract is for sending data and helping with communication in space. The company plans to use its Moon missions to put a group of data relay satellites around the Moon. This is a key part of their plan to support businesses and NASA's Artemis program. The Artemis program aims to have humans live on the Moon for longer periods. The NSNS contract offers a "pay-by-the-minute" service for sending data.
Working with KBR
In April 2023, Intuitive Machines and KBR formed a joint company called Space Networks Solution. This new company won a five-year contract worth up to $719 million. They will help support NASA's Joint Polar Satellite System.
Project Morpheus and Its Legacy
Project Morpheus was a NASA project that started in 2010. It worked on developing a test vehicle for landing, similar to the Nova-C lander. Tim Crain, one of the founders of Intuitive Machines, worked on Project Morpheus. He later became the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Intuitive Machines.
Images for kids
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Lunar Operations Facility at Houston Spaceport
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Intuitive Machines logo
See also
In Spanish: Intuitive Machines para niños
