How Intuitive Machines Makes Lunar Comms Sexier Than Landing
Intuitive Machines builds lunar infrastructure from landers to relay satellites, securing NASA contracts and $1.1B backlog for cislunar communications dominance.
Intuitive Machines (NASDAQ: LUNR 0.00%↑ ) is undergoing a transformation from a space mission contractor into a space infrastructure platform company.
Business
Intuitive Machines’ core business is structured around three layers. The first layer is spacecraft manufacturing, including the Nova-C lander and the satellite platforms acquired through the purchase of Lanteris.
The second layer is space network services, with the upcoming Altus-1 lunar relay satellite serving as the key asset in this layer.
The third layer is the ground network. Through the acquisitions of Goonhilly Earth Station and COMSAT, the company has obtained deep-space communications ground station assets spanning the United States and the United Kingdom.
These three layers combined form a closed loop from manufacturing to connectivity to operations.
Under NASA’s CLPS program, Intuitive Machines holds the largest number of mission awards, including the most recent sixth mission award with a contract value of up to $148.3 million.
