Intuitive Machines Wins $148.3M NASA Award for Nova-C Lander Pipeline
LUNR•Intuitive Machines secured a firm-fixed-price NASA contract valued up to $148.3 million to deliver a production-line-qualified Nova-C lander by 2028. The award includes a $68.6 million base fee and a $79.7 million incentive to standardize high-volume lunar transport infrastructure with advanced scientific payloads.
1. Award Details and Deliverables
Intuitive Machines received its sixth CLPS task order from NASA, securing a firm-fixed-price contract worth up to $148.3 million to deliver a Nova-C lander by 2028. The lander will carry scientific instruments including stereo cameras (SCALPSS), a laser retroreflector array (LRA) and a Linear Energy Transfer Spectrometer (LETS).
2. Financial Structure of the Contract
The agreement comprises a $68.6 million base contract for mission execution and a $79.7 million performance incentive tied to successful production-line qualification. This framework guarantees rapid, repeatable lander supply and aligns payments with manufacturing milestones.
3. Production-Line Scaling Strategy
Intuitive Machines will apply industry 4.0 manufacturing processes to mass-produce Nova-C landers in parallel, shifting from bespoke aerospace engineering to standardized lunar transport services. This approach aims to support sustained Moon Base deployments by providing a reliable, high-velocity logistics pipeline.
4. Strategic Impact on Lunar Infrastructure
By expanding its space infrastructure footprint, Intuitive Machines positions itself as a leading commercial provider of cislunar transport and logistics. The award accelerates NASA’s Artemis schedule and helps proliferate operational sites across the lunar surface, reinforcing the company’s role in future exploration.
