NASA Awards Intuitive Machines $116.9 Million Moon Contract

NASA has awarded Intuitive Machines a $116.9 million contract to deliver six science and technology payloads to the lunar South Pole in 2027. This marks the company's fourth contract under NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, out of the ten contracts awarded. The payloads include a suite of European Space Agency instruments for subsurface sampling and other tools to study the lunar environment, including water ice. The mission aims to provide valuable data for future lunar exploration and resource extraction. The challenging terrain and extreme conditions of the lunar South Pole make it a significant target for scientific investigation. This mission is part of NASA's broader Artemis campaign to conduct extensive lunar science and support crew missions on the Moon.