Intuitive Machines—known for its Moon landers—will become a military contractor

The core of NASA's Gateway lunar space station is seen undergoing assembly at Lanteris Space Systems in Palo Alto, California. Credit: Lanteris Space Systems

Intuitive Machines announced last week an $800 million acquisition that will catapult the one-time startup into the space industry establishment.

The company’s planned purchase of Lanteris Space Systems, a satellite manufacturer you may have never heard of, is rather significant. Lanteris is the latest addition to a line of corporate brands that dates back to 1957. Until last month, the company was known as Maxar Space Systems. Its acquisition by Intuitive Machines would be perhaps the industry’s most evident example of a “New Space” firm buying up an “Old Space” company.

The deal would help Intuitive Machines expand beyond its core competency of Moon missions to the broader sector of satellite manufacturing and space services. Lanteris has been owned since 2023 by Advent ...