Intuitive Machines soared more than 57% after hours! Secures a NASA contract worth $4.82 billion

Intuitive Machines (LUNR.US) surged more than 57% in after-hours trading on Tuesday, reaching $8.50 per share, according to information obtained by Zhitong Finance APP. On the news front, Intuitive Machines announced that the company has secured a nearly $4.82 billion contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for a near-space network extending from the Earth's surface to beyond the moon to provide communication and navigation services for missions in the near-space region. The contract has a base period of five years with an option to extend for another five years.

It is reported that satellite relays extending from geostationary orbit to near the moon orbit are crucial for NASA to achieve its near-term goal of human landing at the lunar south pole by the end of this decade. According to NASA, there are few landing opportunities in this lunar region that have direct communication with Earth ground stations. In addition to manned missions, lunar relays can also provide new capabilities for unmanned missions, such as remote or autonomous rover operations, as well as providing navigation services for payloads on the lunar surface and increasing data transfer rates.

Cantor Fitzgerald senior analyst Andres Sheppard stated, "We believe today's victory is an important validation of Intuitive Machines' prospects and its ability to continue winning more contracts."

Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus said, "This contract marks a turning point in Intuitive Machines' leadership position in space communication and navigation." "We are excited to work as a team with NASA to support the Artemis program and strive to expand the lunar economy."

Information shows that the Artemis program is a government-funded manned space project in the United States, with the goal of safely sending astronauts to the moon and back by 2024, establishing a sustainable presence mechanism, and paving the way for future manned missions to Mars. The Artemis program is led by NASA and involves multiple U.S. commercial space companies and international partners.

So far this year, Intuitive Machines' stock price has risen over 111%. In February of this year, the Nova-C lander manufactured by Intuitive Machines landed successfully on the lunar surface in the vicinity of the lunar south pole, carried by SpaceX's Falcon 9. This marked the first lunar mission completed by a private company in human history, creating another milestone in commercial spaceflight. NASA, returning to the moon for the first time in half a century, paid only $118 million for this lunar landing mission