A new Moon mission contract was secured by Intuitive Machines, a renowned space startup, under the NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program for a 2027 launch. This centers on a new moon lander that will be deployed to the Lunar South Pole, with NASA looking to collect samples from the region best known for its water ice evidence.
With this new contract, Intuitive Machines will receive $116.9 million where they are asked to deliver six NASA payloads to the Moon.
Intuitive Machines Secure $116.9M Moon Mission Contract from NASA
Intuitive Machines
Intuitive Machines shared a new press release that announced its latest secured contract worth a whopping $116.9 million from NASA, and yet again, the company is sending a new batch of landers to the Moon. The mission is eyeing a 2027 venture where Intuitive Machines will deliver six science and technology payloads, as well as a European Space Agency's (ESA) drill suite.
All of these payloads are meant for a Lunar south pole exploration which Intuitive Machines would carry for the space agencies.
To date, this is Intuitive Machines' fourth contract under the CLPS program, out of the 10 contracts which NASA has awarded to other space companies.
NASA CLPS: Intuitive Machine's Moon Lander for South Pole Mission
According to NASA, this new lunar contract will use the Nova-C lander from Intuitive Machines to deliver said payloads to the Moon's south pole region. Collectively, these instruments weigh about 174 pounds or 79 kilograms which Intuitive Machines would land on the Moon for the south pole's exploration.
This mission set for 2027 looks to understand more of the Moon's environment, as well as learn more about the ice formation on the Lunar South Pole.
Intuitive Machines and Its Renowned NASA Contracts
The Houston, Texas-based space company, Intuitive Machines, is famed for its historical moon mission that wasplanned for a 2023 launch, centering on its Nova-C Lunar Lander that was ready earlier in the year. It was originallyslated for September but was then moved to mid-December to early 2024, and the company launched its payload last February.
Its IM-1 mission last February was considered a historical feat for Intuitive Machines, NASA, and the United States asit was the first lunar touchdown of the country since the last one in 1972. However while it was considered a success, there were complications to the mission, particularly with Odysseus tipping over and causing its solar panels to face away from the Sun, leading to its battery depletion.
The premature IM-1 mission was merely a setback for Intuitive Machines as it already planned the next IM-2 for later this year, also ushering in new Nova-C lander improvements. Moving away from the Nova-C, Intuitive Machines yet again secured another NASA contract under CLPS, and this time, it will be focusing on exploring the lunar south pole.
