Intuitive Machines, Inc. (NASDAQ:LUNR) shares are trading lower on Tuesday. The company, along with Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK), successfully integrated Nokia's Lunar Surface Communication System (LSCS) into the IM-2 mission lander, Athena.
The Athena lander, along with the LSCS, is set to travel to the lunar south pole during the upcoming IM-2 mission, where the two companies plan to deploy the first cellular network on the Moon.
The LSCS, adapted from Earth's 4G/LTE technology by Nokia Bell Labs, enables surface connectivity for high-definition video, communications, and telemetry.
Nokia's LSCS includes two device modules installed in Intuitive Machines' Micro-Nova Hopper and Lunar Outpost's MAPP rover.
After extensive testing with Nokia Bell Labs, Intuitive Machines integrated the LSCS "network in a box" onto Athena's carbon-composite panel.
Upon landing, these vehicles will deploy and immediately use the modules to connect to the network on Athena.
Intuitive Machines plans to transmit this data directly to Earth through its data transmission service.
Intuitive Machines' second lunar mission will test new sensors on the Micro-Nova Hopper, designed to detect water ice by scanning for hydrogen in permanently shadowed lunar craters.
Data will be transmitted to Athena via the Nokia network and sent back to Earth.
Investors can gain exposure to the stock via Procure Space ETF (NASDAQ:UFO) and SPDR S&P Kensho Final Frontiers ETF (NYSE:ROKT).
Price Action: LUNR shares are down 6.71% at $20.30 at the last check Tuesday.
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