Intuitive Machines, LLC, 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., 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 honoured to provide a solution to transport Brokkr-2 into deep space to observe one of AstroForge’s target asteroids in advance of 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., 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 (SEC), and other customary closing conditions.