HOUSTON, Dec. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Intuitive Machines, Inc. (Nasdaq: LUNR, LUNRW) ("Intuitive Machines" or the "Company"), a space exploration, infrastructure, and services company, has secured additional contracts from NASA's Near Space Network ("NSN") for Direct-to-Earth ("DTE") services. These contracts further position Intuitive Machines as a vital partner in supporting NASA's missions to the Moon, and beyond.
DTE communication and navigation services are critical for enabling missions to exit Earth's orbit, reach lunar destinations, and explore deep space. The new contract awards include:
Subcategory 1.2: DTE Geostationary ("GEO") to Cislunar DTE Services, offering enhanced data transmission capabilities and autonomous operations.
Subcategory 1.3: xCislunar DTE Services, addressing mission needs for highly elliptical orbits and deep space operations.
Both contracts are firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity task orders designed to bolster NASA's Lunar Exploration Ground Segment. These awards add capacity to alleviate demand on the Deep Space Network and support unique mission requirements.
In September, NASA awarded Intuitive Machines NSN Subcategory 2.2, which involves deploying and operating a constellation of lunar data relay satellites.
"We are privileged to help NASA deliver essential data and transmission services that support missions navigating the critical pathways between Earth, the Moon, and beyond," said Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus. "We believe these new awards complement our existing NSN contract and will expand our space communications and navigation service offerings. They position us to capitalize on the $4.82 billion maximum potential value of the NSN contract, while supporting NASA's Artemis campaign and commercial endeavors to expand the lunar economy."
Intuitive Machines intends to leverage its proven DTE lunar data transmission network, supported by long-term agreements with strategically located radio astronomy dishes worldwide. During its first lunar mission, the Company successfully transmitted data from beyond the Earth's orbit, around the Moon, and on the Moon's surface.
Project timelines for these contracts span February 2025 to September 2029, with an additional five-year option period that could extend a contract through September 30, 2034.
About Intuitive Machines
Intuitive Machines is a diversified space exploration, infrastructure, and services company focused on fundamentally disrupting lunar access economics. In 2024, Intuitive Machines successfully landed the Company's Nova-C class lunar lander, Odysseus, on the Moon, returning the United States to the lunar surface for the first time since 1972. The Company's products and services are offered through its four in-space business units: Lunar Access Services, Orbital Services, Lunar Data Services, and Space Products and Infrastructure.
德克萨斯州休斯顿，2024年12月23日（全球新闻网络）-- Intuitive Machines, Inc.（纳斯达克：LUNR, LUNRW）（“Intuitive Machines”或“公司”），是一家从事太空探索、制造行业和服务的公司，已从 NASA 的近空间网络（“NSN”）获得额外的直接向地球（“DTE”）服务合同。这些合同进一步使 Intuitive Machines 成为支持 NASA 月球及更远任务的重要合作伙伴。
DTE通信-半导体和导航服务对于使任务能够脱离地球轨道、抵达月球目的地和探索深空至关重要。新的合同奖项包括：
这两份合同都是固定总价、无限交付/无限数量的任务订单，旨在加强NASA的月球探索地面段。这些奖项增加了能力，以缓解对深空网络的需求并支持独特的任务要求。
在九月份，美国宇航局授予Intuitive Machines NSN子类别2.2，该项目涉及部署和运营一组月球数据继电器卫星。
Intuitive Machines的首席执行官Steve Altemus表示："我们很荣幸能帮助美国宇航局提供重要的数据和变速器服务，以支持在地球、月球和更远处之间导航的关键路径任务。我们相信这些新授予的合同补充了我们现有的NSN合同，并将扩大我们的空间通信和导航服务产品。这使我们能够利用NSN合同的48.2亿最大潜在价值，同时支持美国宇航局的阿耳忒弥斯计划和商业努力，以扩展月球经济。"
Intuitive Machines打算利用其经过验证的DTE月球数据变速器网络，通过与全球战略位置的射电天文学望远镜的长期协议进行支持。在其第一次月球任务中，该公司成功地从地球轨道之外、月球周围以及月球表面传输了数据。
这些合同的项目时间表从2025年2月延续到2029年9月，并具有额外的五年选择期，这可能将合同延续至2034年9月30日。
关于直觉机器公司
直觉机器是一家多元化的太空探索、制造行业和服务公司，专注于根本性地颠覆月球访问经济。2024年，直觉机器成功地将公司的Nova-C级月球着陆器奥德修斯降落在月球上，使美国首次自1972年以来重返月球表面。公司的产品和服务通过其四个太空业务部门提供：月球访问服务、轨道服务、月球数据服务，以及太空产品和制造行业。
子类别1.3：x月球间DTE服务，满足高椭圆轨道和深空操作的任务需求。