Intuitive Machines Announces Agreement to deliver AstroForge Asteroid Mining Payload to Deep Space
Intuitive Machines, LLC (“Intuitive Machines” or the “Company”), a leading space exploration, infrastructure, and services company, today announced the execution of an agreement to deliver Brokkr-2, a deep space vehicle from California-based asteroid mining company, AstroForge, Inc. (“AstroForge”), to deep space to observe one of AstroForge’s target asteroids.
Brokkr-2 is expected to launch during Intuitive Machines’ second lunar mission in the second half of 2023. Intuitive Machines intends to deploy Brokkr-2 using the Company’s excess launch capacity on an Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV), Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) after the launch vehicle separates from the lunar lander.
The agreement with AstroForge leverages Intuitive Machines’ Orbital Services business segment, which provides a low-cost rideshare opportunity to carry Brokkr-2 into space.
“AstroForge’s pursuit of mining asteroids to preserve Earth’s resources is a pursuit humanity can undertake with hope,” said Peter McGrath, Vice President of Business Development of Intuitive Machines. “Ambitious missions like AstroForge’s will require a responsive and reliable path millions of miles beyond the Moon on the way to asteroids. Intuitive Machines is honored to provide a solution to transport Brokkr-2 into deep space to observe one of AstroForge’s target asteroids in advance of missions that could benefit us all as well as future generations.”
“Our first deep space mission places AstroForge on an accelerated path to make asteroid mining a realistic and near-term solution to preserving Earth’s declining resources and protecting the environment from the harmful waste produced by the mining industry,” said AstroForge Co-Founder and CEO, Matt Gialich. “Intuitive Machines’ cost-effective rideshare makes opportunities like this possible, and it’s the perfect example of the emerging cislunar economy.”
As previously announced, Intuitive Machines signed a definitive business combination agreement with Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: IPAX, IPAXU, IPAXW) (“Inflection Point”), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company, that is expected to result in Intuitive Machines becoming publicly listed. Completion of the transaction is subject to approval by Inflection Point’s shareholders, the registration statement being declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and other customary closing conditions.
About Intuitive Machines
Intuitive Machines is a diversified space company focused on space exploration. Intuitive Machines supplies space products and services to support sustained robotic and human exploration to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Intuitive Machines’ products and services are offered through its four business units: Lunar Access Services, Orbital Services, Lunar Data Services, and Space Products and Infrastructure. For more information, please visit intuitivemachines.com.
About AstroForge
AstroForge is preserving our planet’s future while unlocking a new frontier of resources with its asteroid mining vehicle. Co-founded in 2022 by Jose Acain and Matt Gialich, AstroForge will be the first commercial company to venture into deep space. AstroForge was in the Y Combinator W22 cohort and is backed by Initialized Capital, Seven Seven Six, EarthRise, Aera VC, Liquid 2 and Soma. For more information visit www.astroforge.io or follow AstroForge on Twitter and Linkedin.
About Inflection Point
Inflection Point is a blank check company formed for the purpose of identifying and partnering with North American and European businesses in the consumer and technology sectors. Inflection Point’s financial sponsor is an affiliate of Kingstown Capital Management, LP, an investment firm. For more information, please visit inflectionpointacquisition.com.
