Intuitive Machines vs Astrobotic
Two CLPS lunar-lander contractors with contrasting flight records and Series-A vs SPAC capital structures.
Side by side
| Attribute | Intuitive Machines | Astrobotic |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2013 | 2007 |
| Headquarters | Houston, United States | Pittsburgh, United States |
| Entity type | commercial | commercial |
| Operational status | public | operational |
| Stock ticker | LUNR | — |
| Sectors | lunar, spacecraft | lunar, spacecraft |
| Significant people | Steve Altemus (CEO, Co-founder) | John Thornton (CEO) |
What each one does
Intuitive Machines
Intuitive Machines is a leading commercial lunar services company providing spacecraft, landers, and space infrastructure supporting NASA's return to the Moon. In February 2024, the company achieved a historic milestone when its Odysseus Nova-C lander became the first commercial spacecraft to successfully soft-land on the Moon and the first American spacecraft to reach the lunar surface since Apollo 17 in 1972. The IM-1 mission launched on SpaceX Falcon 9 from Kennedy Space Center on February 15, 2024, with Odysseus landing at Malapert A crater near the lunar south pole on February 22. The 4-meter tall hexagonal lander carried approximately 100 kg of payload including six NASA-developed experiments and commercial customer payloads. Odysseus was the first spacecraft to use liquid methane and liquid oxygen (methalox) propulsion beyond low-Earth orbit. Selected through NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, Intuitive Machines received $118 million to develop the Nova-C platform. The CLPS program enables NASA to contract with commercial partners providing launch and landing services, accelerating lunar exploration while building a commercial lunar economy. The upcoming IM-2 mission will deploy the Athena lander to the lunar south pole region, including Nokia's Lunar Surface Communication System to establish the first cellular network on the Moon. Intuitive Machines continues developing lunar data transmission services, navigation systems, and infrastructure supporting NASA's Artemis campaign to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon.
Full Intuitive Machines profileAstrobotic
Astrobotic Technology is a Pittsburgh-based lunar logistics company providing delivery services to the Moon through NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. The company's Griffin Mission One (Griffin-1) is scheduled for late 2025 delivery to Nobile Crater at the lunar South Pole. NASA modified the CLPS contract after discontinuing the VIPER project due to funding constraints; Griffin will demonstrate large lander capability flying similar mass to VIPER to the South Pole region as a technology demonstration flight. Griffin-1 payloads include Venturi Astrolab's FLIP rover demonstrating core components for the FLEX rover, Astrobotic's CubeRover-1 lunar rover (completed acceptance testing and deemed flight-ready), Carnegie Mellon's Iris Lunar Dream Capsule, and payloads from ESA and NASA. Astrobotic's earlier Peregrine Mission One launched January 8, 2024, aboard Vulcan Centaur's maiden flight but experienced propellant leak preventing lunar landing. Astrobotic was competitively selected by ESA to study delivery of payload packages on Peregrine lunar landers.
Full Astrobotic profileIntuitive Machines vs Astrobotic — frequently asked
Quick answers to the questions most often searched.
- What's the difference between Intuitive Machines and Astrobotic?
- Two CLPS lunar-lander contractors with contrasting flight records and Series-A vs SPAC capital structures.
- When was Intuitive Machines founded compared to Astrobotic?
- Intuitive Machines was founded in 2013, and Astrobotic was founded in 2007.
- Where are Intuitive Machines and Astrobotic headquartered?
- Intuitive Machines is headquartered in Houston; Astrobotic is headquartered in Pittsburgh.