Intuitive Machines shoots for the Moon with NASA's $4.82B lunar relay jackpot

Surely at least one crew will get there in the next ten years?

Intuitive Machines has bagged a contract worth up to $4.82 billion to support NASA's lunar relay systems.

NASA noted the project has a base period of five years, beginning on Tuesday, October 1, 2024. There is an option to extend it through September 30, 2034, if required.

Even considering the prodigious delays suffered by NASA's Artemis program, at least one crew should make it to the Moon in that time frame.

Lunar relays are a vital part of plans for long-term exploration of the Moon. Without them, landing opportunities at the South Pole, for example, would be severely limited due to a lack of direct communication between the landing site and the Earth. The relays will provide data and communication services.

"The lunar relay award also includes services to support position, navigation, and timing capabilities, which are crucial for ensuring the safety of navigation on and around the lunar surface," said NASA.

In addition to supporting human landings, NASA expects the lunar relay services to see action in support of the Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) and future Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) flights.

According to Intuitive Machines, the award is a Near Space Network (NSN) contract for missions in the near-space region, which extends from the Earth's surface to beyond the Moon. It will also mark the debut of Intuitive Machines' lunar satellite constellation.

Intuitive Machines is best known for its Odysseus lander, the first US lander to make a soft landing on the Moon in 50 years. The lander tipped over during its February touchdown but still managed to operate much of its payload.

More recently, Intuitive Machines submitted a bid to save NASA's VIPER rover, which had been set for a 2025 roll around the lunar surface before its abrupt cancellation.

The Houston-based company has done well with scooping up government contracts. On August 29, it confirmed a $116.9 million deal to deliver six science and technology payloads to the lunar surface, including a European Space Agency-led drill-suite. The contract is the fourth award for Intuitive Machines under NASA's CLPS initiative.

The CLPS agreement is, however, pocket change compared to the potential maximum value of the lunar relay services contract. ®