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☆ Lunar landing photos: Intuitive Machines' Odysseus sends back first images from the moon
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus explains how the company's IM-1 lander tipped over on the moon's surfacing during a NASA press conference on Feb. 22, 2023. Intuitive Machines' cargo lander, Odysseus, returned its first images from the moon's surface over the weekend, as the spacecraft settles in to its lunar destination. The company's historic IM-1 mission is now operating on the moon after landing on Thursday, becoming the first privately developed spacecraft to soft land on the lunar surface. Intuitive Machines expects Odysseus to operate until Tuesday morning, when its solar panels will no longer be exposed to the sun. The Odysseus lander carried 12 government and commercial payloads — six of which are for NASA under a $118 million contract through the agency's Commercial Lunar Payload Services, or CLPS, initiative.

Persons: Steve Altemus, Odysseus Organizations: NASA, Payload Services

☆ FAA closes Starship investigation as SpaceX seeks license for next launch
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The Federal Aviation Administration on Monday announced the close of its investigation alongside SpaceX into the second Starship flight, as Elon Musk's company seeks a license to launch the towering rocket again. SpaceX led an investigation that the FAA oversaw into the Nov. 18 launch of a Starship prototype that reached space before being intentionally destroyed due to a problem with the rocket. "Prior to the next launch, SpaceX must implement all corrective actions and receive a license. SpaceX, in a post on its website on Monday, identified some of the issues that cut the second Starship launch short. The 17 corrective actions following the second Starship flight also represent a marked improvement from the first, which required 63 corrective actions before the rocket launched again.

Persons: SpaceX's, Elon, —, Musk Organizations: Boca Chica, Federal Aviation Administration, Monday, SpaceX, FAA Locations: Brownsville , Texas

☆ Intuitive Machines jumps in wild trading after moon landing
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Shares of Intuitive Machines jumped in early trading on Friday after the company's successful first moon landing. The Houston, Texas company confirmed that the IM-1 mission lander was standing upright and sending data back to Earth. "Odysseus has found his new home," Tim Crain, Intuitive Machines' CTO and IM-1 mission director, said from the company's mission control. Intuitive Machines stock initially ripped 40% higher from its previous close of $8.28 a share before paring gains with heavy trading volume. Intuitive Machines went public via a SPAC a year ago and shares had steadily slid to all-time lows near $2 in January.

Persons: Odysseus, Tim Crain Locations: U.S, Houston , Texas

☆ Intuitive Machines stock has surged 300%. How Wall Street reads the moon-fueled rally
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

NASA TVMuch like Intuitive Machines' spacecraft, its stock has been flying to the moon the past week. Stock Chart Icon Stock chart icon Intuitive Machines stock trading around its IM-1 moon mission. Only a handful of Wall Street analysts cover the $1 billion space company. Along with Canaccord Genuity analyst Austin Moeller, Sullivan and Sheppard were unanimous in their reads that retail, not institutional, investors are driving the current Intuitive Machines' rally. Intuitive Machines and NASA leaders showcase a mockup of the company's Nova-C lunar lander during a presentation on May 31, 2019.

Persons: It's, We've, Cantor Fitzgerald's Andres Sheppard, Sheppard, Josh Sullivan, Canaccord, Austin Moeller, Sullivan, Aubrey Gemignani, NASA Canaccord's Moeller, they'll, Moeller Organizations: NASA, Wall, CNBC, Wall Street, FactSet, Payload Locations: Texas, U.S

☆ Watch Intuitive Machines attempt the first U.S. moon landing in over 50 years
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Intuitive Machines' mission, known as IM-1, aims to soft land near the moon's south pole at about 6:24 p.m. Intuitive Machines would become the first company to pull off the feat — government agencies have carried out all previous successful landings. Intuitive Machines, a Houston, Texas-based company founded in 2013, went public a year ago. After landing, Intuitive Machines aims to operate Odysseus on the surface for up to seven days. NASA leadership emphasized before the launch that "IM-1 is an Intuitive Machines' mission, it's not a NASA mission."

Persons: Odysseus, Aubrey Gemignani, it's, Astrobotic Organizations: Wall, SpaceX, NASA, Payload, Marshall Space, Center, U.S Locations: U.S, Houston , Texas, Pittsburgh, Japan, Russia, China, India

☆ Investing in Space: Former NASA official explains 'shots on goal' approach to cargo moon landings
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

CNBC's Investing in Space newsletter offers a view into the business of space exploration and privatization, delivered straight to your inbox. We're six years on from NASA declaring it would look to American companies to deliver cargo and research to the moon. As much as CLPS companies are bidding against each other for contracts, it's another example of what I've called space industry coopetition — simultaneous cooperation and competition. Already, Astrobotic represents that dynamic, holding a briefing with other CLPS companies to share the learnings from the company's first effort. But how many CLPS mission failures will NASA tolerate?

Persons: CNBC's Michael Sheetz, it's, Thomas Zurbuchen, Zurbuchen, Z, Astrobotic's, – Organizations: NASA, Payload, Aerospace

☆ SpaceX SVP Tom Ochinero is leaving the company in a rare high-level departure
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, carrying the Arabsat 6A communications satellite, lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, April 11, 2019. One of SpaceX's senior executives is leaving, CNBC has learned, in a rare high-level departure from Elon Musk's space company. Tom Ochinero, SpaceX senior vice president of commercial business, resigned on Monday, people familiar with the matter told CNBC. Ochinero, like many of SpaceX's dozen or so senior executives, has been with the company for more than a decade. He started his career at SpaceX as an engineer helping design the nosecone used on its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets.

Persons: Tom Ochinero Organizations: SpaceX, Kennedy Space Center, CNBC Locations: Cape Canaveral , Florida, Elon

☆ Lunar company Intuitive Machines' stock surges 50% to trade above SPAC debut price
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Shares of Intuitive Machines jumped for a third consecutive trading session, surpassing their post-SPAC debut price, as the company's first mission completed further milestones as it approached the moon. Intuitive Machines' stock surged as much as 65% in trading Tuesday to an intraday high of $12.05, north of the $10.03 a share price that shares traded at after the company completed its SPAC merger in February 2023. Since its inaugural moon mission launched last week, the company's share price has more than doubled. In a series of daily updates since Friday, the Texas-based lunar company said its cargo lander "continues to be in excellent health" and is preparing to enter the moon's orbit on Wednesday. The company noted that entering lunar orbit, also known as "lunar orbit insertion," will be the mission's "largest challenge to date."

Persons: Odysseus Organizations: SpaceX Locations: Texas

☆ Disney star turned space CEO: Bridgit Mendler launches satellite data startup backed by major VCs
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Bridgit Mendler is no stranger to reaching millions of people — now she wants to change how satellite data reaches the ground. "The vision is a data highway between Earth and space," Mendler told CNBC. "Space is getting easier along so many different dimensions but still the actual exercise of sending data to and from space is difficult. Rather than build rockets or satellites, Northwood aims to mass produce ground stations. Also known as teleports, ground stations are the typically large and often circular antennas that connect to satellites in space.

Persons: Bridgit Mendler, The Beverly Hilton, Bridgit, —, Charlie, Mendler, Andreessen Horowitz, Griffin, Luthra, Lockheed Martin Organizations: The Beverly, Disney Channel, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard Law School, Federal Communications, Space Bureau, CNBC, Northwood, Founders Fund, Lockheed, Mitre Corporation, Space Locations: Beverly Hills , California, Waverly, El Segundo , California

☆ Intuitive Machines stock jumps 16% after company says moon mission is in 'excellent health'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Intuitive Machines' Nova-C lander "Odysseus" deploys from the upper stage of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket to begin the IM-1 mission. Shares of Intuitive Machines jumped for a second consecutive day after the company issued an update that said its moon lander mission "is in excellent health." The Texas-based lunar company launched its inaugural cargo mission, known as IM-1, on a SpaceX rocket early Thursday morning. Intuitive Machines' stock jumped as much as 30% in early trading Friday before paring gains to trade up about 16% from its previous close of $6.70 a share. Since IM-1 launched, Intuitive Machines' stock is up 75% as of Friday's trading high.

Persons: Andrew Chanin, that's, Chanin Organizations: SpaceX, CNBC, NASA Locations: Texas

☆ Intuitive Machines stock spikes as lunar company's first moon mission begins
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Shares of Intuitive Machines spiked in early trading on Thursday, as the space company began its first mission to the moon's surface earlier in the morning. A SpaceX rocket launched Intuitive's IM-1 mission successfully. The cargo lunar lander, loaded with research, is headed for the moon and Intuitive expects to make a landing attempt next week. Intuitive's stock rose as much 25% in trading before pairing gains to trade about 22% up from its previous close at $4.98 a share. "You could make money a whole lot of ways – but this isn't just about making money.

Persons: Steve Altemus Organizations: SpaceX, Kennedy Space Center, CNBC Locations: Cape Canaveral , Florida

☆ Moon company Intuitive Machines begins first mission after SpaceX launch
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Intuitive Machines' Nova-C lander launched from Florida on SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, beginning the IM-1 mission. Intuitive Machines' Nova-C lander "Odysseus" deploys from the upper stage of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket to begin the IM-1 mission. NASA leadership emphasized before the launch that "IM-1 is an Intuitive Machines' mission, it's not a NASA mission." After landing, Intuitive Machines aims to operate Odysseus on the surface for up to seven days. Last month, U.S. company Astrobotic got its first moon mission off the ground but encountered problems shortly after launch.

Persons: Paul Hennessy, Trent Martin, Odysseus, it's, Joel Kearns, Kearns, Russia —, ispace, Astrobotic, didn't Organizations: SpaceX, Kennedy Space Center, Anadolu, Getty Images, Machines, SpaceX's, NASA, Payload, Artemis, Nasdaq, Marshall Space, Center, Soviet Union —, U.S Locations: Cape Canaveral , Florida, Getty Images Texas, U.S, Florida, United States, Wednesday's, Japan, Russia, Soviet Union, China, India

☆ Investing in Space: The role of Starlink in limiting space debris
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

CNBC's Investing in Space newsletter offers a view into the business of space exploration and privatization, delivered straight to your inbox. But – in the latest edition of "SpaceX is the industry exception, not the rule" – the company's recent announcement that it will de-orbit 100 Starlink satellites is a different story. For one, that number represents about 2% of the Starlink satellites launched to date. And, at SpaceX's current rates, they're able to produce and launch replacement satellites in about two weeks time. More importantly, in the ongoing conversation about space debris: SpaceX has a distinct incentive to make sure any faulty Starlink satellites don't end up in the future path of its own rockets and spacecraft.

Persons: CNBC's Michael Sheetz, Brian Weeden Organizations: SpaceX, Secure, Foundation

☆ After 8 months stuck in orbit, Varda's drug spacecraft gets FAA approval to return
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Space startup Varda received long-awaited approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to bring its first spacecraft back to earth after a stint manufacturing drugs in space. Varda's small W-Series 1 capsule, or W-1, has been stuck in orbit since it launched eight months ago. The FAA's approval means Varda will try to land the W-1 mission on Feb. 21. The W-1 mission is a demonstration of the company's automated in-space manufacturing process. The company previously said it expects to return a few kilograms of manufactured material on the W-1 mission.

Persons: Varda Organizations: Federal Aviation Administration, Air Force's Utah, FAA Locations: Utah, United States

☆ How satellite connectivity startup Skylo hooked backers such as Intel, BMW and Samsung to raise $37 million
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Silicon Valley space startup Skylo Technologies landed funding from the corporate venture arms of Intel, BMW and Samsung, as the company aims to bridge the gap between satellite and terrestrial communications. Skylo raised $37 million through an equity round, the company told CNBC, that was led by Intel Capital and Innovation Endeavors and joined by BMW i Ventures, Next47, Samsung Catalyst Fund and Seraphim Space. We just don't want extra hardware, because that adds complexity," Skylo CEO Parth Trivedi told CNBC. That way, Trivedi sees Skylo operating as a "roaming partner" to existing cellular networks, effectively rubber-stamping and linking devices made by other connectivity players. "You're going to find that this approach is very, very scalable, because the carriers don't have to change behavior, the users don't have to change behavior, the satellite operators don't have to change behavior, and regulators don't have to change behavior," Trivedi said.

Persons: Skylo, Parth Trivedi, Trivedi, Dave Johnson, They've, Johnson Organizations: Technologies, Intel, BMW, Samsung, CNBC, Intel Capital, Innovation, BMW i Ventures, Next47, Samsung Catalyst Fund, SoftBank, Qualcomm, MediaTek, Sony Locations: Mountain View , California

☆ K2 Space, a startup with SpaceX veterans building monster satellites, raises $50 million
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Los Angeles-based startup K2 Space raised $50 million in new funding as the company works to build monster satellites to match the massive rockets that are coming to market. The company's latest fundraiser was led by tech investor Brad Gerstner's Altimeter Capital and joined by Alpine Space Ventures, adding to the $8.5 million in seed funding it raised from investors including First Round Capital and Republic Capital. K2 declined to specify its valuation after the most recent round. "This round is effectively built for the demand that we're seeing for launching constellations of the Mega class satellites," Karan Kunjur told CNBC. K2's Mega class satellite bus — the physical structure of a spacecraft that provides power, movement and more — is sized to fit in "heavy" and "super heavy" rockets.

Persons: Karan Kunjur, Neel Kunjur, Brad, Glenn Organizations: K2, Alpine Space Ventures, First, Capital, Republic Capital, CNBC Locations: Los Angeles

☆ Investing in Space: How bankers read a potential sale of rocket builder ULA
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

CNBC's Investing in Space newsletter offers a view into the business of space exploration and privatization, delivered straight to your inbox. It's been widely reported over the last year that ULA parent companies Boeing and Lockheed Martin are considering offloading the rocket business. That's despite the successful debut of ULA's Vulcan rocket in early January, which I assumed would galvanize a sale. In the meantime, I've been curious to understand how ULA's sale is likely to play out. Boeing and Lockheed Martin are, and have been, looking to sell the rocket business for some time.

Persons: CNBC's Michael Sheetz, It's, Lockheed Martin, ULA, Tory Bruno, Jeff Bezos, hasn't, I've, it's Organizations: Boeing, Lockheed, Origin, Textron, SpaceX, U.S ., Glenn, Vulcan Locations: ULA

Hawaiian Airlines is rolling out complimentary Wi-Fi via SpaceX's Starlink on board commercial flights this week, the companies told CNBC, the first major U.S. airline to offer the satellite-based service. Hawaiian's plan for complimentary Wi-Fi comes as airlines ramp up their offerings for high-speed connectivity. "It really feels like an experience that should not be possible when you get on a commercial airline flight. Hawaiian signed an agreement with SpaceX in April 2022, looking to utilize the Starlink network – which consists of more than 5,000 satellites in low Earth orbit and boasts more than 2.3 million customers worldwide. The airline didn't previously offer inflight Wi-Fi.

Persons: Peter Ingram, Chad Gibbs, Gibbs Organizations: CNBC, U.S, SpaceX, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Delta Air Lines, didn't Locations: U.S, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii

☆ Investing in Space: NASA panel warns astronaut moon plan may be too ambitious
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The Moon's surface seen from the Orion spacecraft on flight day 20 of the Artemis I mission. CNBC's Investing in Space newsletter offers a view into the business of space exploration and privatization, delivered straight to your inbox. NASA's Artemis moon mission program regularly faces a wide swath of questions – from legislators, auditors, companies and even just the American public – about goals, timeline, cost and more. Call it an Artemis mission! If Orion flying uncrewed around the moon is an Artemis mission, then the first uncrewed HLS landing should be too, because it's arguably just as important to the goal of landing humans back on the moon.

Persons: Artemis, CNBC's Michael Sheetz, it's Organizations: Orion, Aerospace, NASA, Artemis Locations: –

☆ Starlab, meet Starship: Private space station buys SpaceX launch for later this decade
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

An artist's rendering of the Starlab space station in low Earth orbit. Private station Starlab will fly on a Starship rocket later this decade to get to orbit, the companies' developing both spacecraft announced on Wednesday. Starlab represents one of the earliest commercial customers to order a Starship launch from SpaceX. The station is one of several currently in development by U.S. companies, as NASA prepares to retire the International Space Station in 2030. The space station's four-year development and construction timeline also gives SpaceX time to move forward with Starship, advancing from demonstration flights to launching customer spacecraft.

Persons: Starlab, Hilton – Organizations: Voyager Space, Airbus, Northrop Grumman, SpaceX, NASA, Space Station, Voyager Locations: U.S

☆ A handful of space companies are running out of cash and time. Here are three at risk
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

A flurry of about a dozen space companies went public over the last few years. SidusSidus Space is a little-known space company that went the traditional IPO route in late 2021 and began trading on the Nasdaq at a near $200 million valuation. But it had less than $2 million in cash at the end of September, trading at a near $9 million valuation according to FactSet. Elsewhere in spaceA fourth space company in a potentially precarious spot is satellite imagery company Satellogic . Overall, investment in the space sector bounced back in 2023, with companies bringing in $12.5 billion in investment last year.

Persons: Here's, Momentus, there's, Sidus, Satellogic, hasn't Organizations: Astra, Astra Astra, Nasdaq, CNBC, Terran

☆ Investing in Space: Sector led Lockheed and Northrop growth last year
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

CNBC's Investing in Space newsletter offers a view into the business of space exploration and privatization, delivered straight to your inbox. But, when Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman both reported 2023 results this week, it was a different story. For both companies, space was the top segment for sales growth in 2023 — by a wide margin. You'd think with such strong results, space would be a highlight of quarterly earnings calls. But for both Lockheed and Northrop, executives and analysts still only mentioned space in passing.

Persons: CNBC's Michael Sheetz, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Northrop, Morgan Brennan, Jay Malave, It's, it's, We've Organizations: Lockheed, Northrop, Vulcan, Boeing Locations: ULA

People raise their hands after a successful moon landing by the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), in a public viewing event in Sagamihara, south of Tokyo, Japan January 20, 2024. Japan staked a claim among national space powers on Friday, as its SLIM spacecraft reached the lunar surface. The country's SLIM lander launched in September and touched down on the lunar surface around 10:20 a.m. Japan's SLIM, which stands for "Smart Lander for Investigating Moon," is a cargo research mission. It carries a variety of scientific payloads, including an analysis camera and a pair of lunar rovers.

Persons: SLIM, Smart Lander Organizations: Smart, SLIM, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA, Engineers, Japan Locations: Sagamihara, Tokyo, Japan, Russia, Soviet Union, U.S, China, India

☆ Investing in Space: Pentagon's satellite constellation awards near $10 billion
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

Now we're pushing $10 billion in awards, to build more than 400 satellites, with seven companies in the mix. York Space has been tapped to make more satellites than anyone but Northrop Grumman, to the tune of $1.3 billion. – The Wall Street Journal / Deere Hyperspectral satellite imagery company Pixxel opens Bengaluru facility, a 30,000-square-foot facility in India for satellite manufacturing. – KeyBancBoldly goingKurt Vogel named as NASA associate administrator for the agency's space technology directorate, effective immediately, previously having been the director of space architectures at the agency. – NASAfor the agency's space technology directorate, effective immediately, previously having been the director of space architectures at the agency.

Persons: Yasin Ozturk, CNBC's Michael Sheetz, – Northrop, Lockheed Martin, L3Harris, Northrop Grumman, you've, Momentus, John Plumb, –, Artemis, – SpacePolicyOnline, Tom Mueller's, Redwire, KeyBanc, Kurt Vogel, Chiara Pedersoli, Marco Fuchs, – OHB, – OHB Frank Di Pentino Organizations: SpaceX, . Space Force, Cape Canaveral Space Force, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Space Force, Space Development Agency, – Northrop Grumman, Lockheed, York, Space, Lab, Sierra Space, CNBC, CNBC NASA, Boeing, NASA, NASA ESA, Science, Technology, Industry, ISS, – NASA SpaceX, Deere, Street, Deere Deere, KKR Locations: Cape, Florida, United States, U.S, Brazil, Bengaluru, India

☆ Space investment rebounded in 2023 with heavy sector M&A, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Investment in the space sector bounced back last year, rebounding closer to the record high of 2021, according to a report Tuesday by New York-based Space Capital. The firm's fourth-quarter report found that space infrastructure companies brought in $2.6 billion of private investment during the period. Top raises during the fourth quarter included funds announced by space companies Firefly Aerospace, Ursa Major, D-Orbit, Stoke Space and True Anomaly. The quarterly Space Capital report divides investment in the industry into three technology categories: infrastructure, distribution and application. Space infrastructure companies have been resilient through the recent downturn.

Persons: Chad Anderson, Anderson Organizations: Infrastructure, Space Capital, Firefly Aerospace, Ursa, Space, CNBC Locations: New York

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