NASA awards Intuitive Machines $116.9 mn contract for Lunar South Pole Payload delivery

Image: An artist’s concept of Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lunar lander on the Moon’s South Pole. Credit: Intuitive Machines/NASA

NASA has given Intuitive Machines, a space exploration company headquartered in Houston, Texas, a $116.9 million contract to deliver to deliver six payloads to the lunar South Pole, a region characterized by frigid temperatures, rugged terrain, and permanently shadowed areas that could provide insights into the origin of water throughout our solar system.

This mission, set for 2027, is part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative.

NASA said Intuitive Machines will handle everything for this mission including preparation of the equipment, launching it into space, landing it safely on the Moon, and managing the mission operations.

Scientific goals

NASA aims to advance lunar science with the new set of experiments and technology demonstrations. Joel Kearns, Deputy Associate Administrator for Exploration at NASA, highlighted that the goal is to explore more of the Moon through various missions and learn more about its environment. Chris Culbert, CLPS Manager at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, mentioned that the instruments will help answer important questions about where water, ice, and other gases are on the Moon. They will also measure radiation levels in the South Pole area, which will help with future Moon and Mars exploration.

Payload details

The mission will deliver approximately 174 pounds (79 kilograms) of scientific instruments, including:

Lunar Explorer Instrument for Space Biology Applications: This will study how yeast reacts to lunar radiation and gravity.

Package for Resource Observation and In-Situ Prospecting: This will drill up to 3.3 feet (1 meter) beneath the lunar surface to find and process any water, ice, or gas in a laboratory.

Laser Retroreflector Array: This array of eight mirror will allow precise distance measurements between a spacecraft and the lander, serving as a permanent lunar marker.

Surface Exosphere Alterations by Landers: This will examine how landing a spacecraft affects the Moon's surface and the surrounding regolith.

Fluxgate Magnetometer: This device will help understand magnetic fields on the Moon and particle pathways on the lunar surface.

Lunar Compact Infrared Imaging System: This radiometer will measure the Moon’s surface composition, map its surface temperature distribution,, and assess the instrument’s feasibility for future lunar resource utilization activities.

About NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services

NASA collaborates with various American companies through its Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative to deliver science and technology to the Moon. CLPS contracts, totaling up to $2.6 billion through 2028, cover all aspects of lunar missions, including payload integration, launch, landing, and mission operations.

Under the Artemis program, CLPS supports scientific experiments, technology testing, and demonstrations to advance lunar exploration and prepare for human missions. NASA initially selected nine companies for CLPS in 2018 and added five more the following year, totaling 14 eligible vendors. These contractors can bid on tasks to deliver payloads, with opportunities for both NASA and commercial payloads on future missions.