Intuitive Machines has gained recent attention due to its involvement in lunar exploration, particularly through its partnership with NASA. The company is set to deliver payloads to the Moon as part of NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface. Their lunar lander, Nova-C, is designed to facilitate scientific research and technology demonstrations on the Moon, contributing to the growing interest in commercial lunar missions.
Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, Intuitive Machines was established by Steve Altemus, Kam Ghaffarian, and Tim Crain. The company specializes in autonomous systems for various applications, including industrial systems, drones, and spacecraft. Intuitive Machines is notable for its focus on lunar exploration and has positioned itself as a key player in the emerging commercial space sector, aiming to support both governmental and private missions to the Moon and beyond.