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.
休斯頓，2024年12月23日（GLOBE NEWSWIRE）——太空探索、基礎設施和服務公司Intuitive Machines, Inc.（納斯達克股票代碼：LUNR，LUNRW）（「Intuitive Machines」 或 「公司」）已獲得美國宇航局近太空網絡（「NSN」）的額外直接對地服務（「DTE」）合同。這些合同進一步將Intuitive Machines定位爲支持美國宇航局月球及其他任務的重要合作伙伴。
DTE 通信和導航服務對於使任務能夠退出地球軌道、到達月球目的地和探索深空至關重要。新的合同授予包括：
這兩份合同都是固定價格、無限期交付/無限數量的任務訂單，旨在加強美國宇航局的月球探索地面部分。這些獎項增加了緩解深空網絡需求的能力，並支持獨特的任務要求。
9月，美國宇航局授予Intuitive Machines NSN子類別2.2，該子類別涉及部署和運營月球數據中繼衛星星座。
Intuitive Machines首席執行官史蒂夫·阿爾特姆斯表示：「我們很榮幸能夠幫助美國宇航局提供基本的數據和傳輸服務，爲在地球、月球及其他地區之間的關鍵路徑上導航的任務提供支持。」「我們認爲，這些新獎項補充了我們現有的NSN合同，並將擴大我們的太空通信和導航服務範圍。他們使我們能夠利用NSN合同的最大潛在價值48.2億美元，同時支持美國宇航局的Artemis活動和擴大月球經濟的商業努力。」
Intuitive Machines打算利用其久經考驗的DTE月球數據傳輸網絡，並輔之以與全球戰略位置的射電天文學天文台達成的長期協議。在首次登月任務中，該公司成功地傳輸了來自地球軌道以外、繞月球和月球表面的數據。
這些合同的項目期限爲2025年2月至2029年9月，再延長五年期權期，可能會將合同延長至2034年9月30日。
關於直觀機器
Intuitive Machines是一家多元化的太空探索、基礎設施和服務公司，致力於從根本上顛覆登月經濟。2024年，Intuitive Machines成功將公司的Nova-C級月球着陸器奧德修斯降落在月球上，自1972年以來首次使美國重返月球表面。該公司的產品和服務通過其四個太空業務部門提供：月球訪問服務、軌道服務、月球數據服務以及太空產品和基礎設施。
子類別 1.3：xcisLunar DTE 服務，滿足高橢圓軌道和深空操作的任務需求。