This rendering shows the IX Fission Surface Power system sitting atop an Intuitive Machines lunar lander. IX is a joint venture between Intuitive Machines and X-energy.IX, a joint venture between Houston-based Intuitive Machines and Rockville, Md.-based X-energy, is receiving $5 million to design a system that could power a habitat, rover and even mining operations.
The Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory awarded the contracts. Lockheed Martin and Westinghouse were also selected to lead initial design concepts.Kam Ghaffarian, an entrepreneur with Houston tiesIntuitive Machines, which is building a lunar lander, is responsible for ensuring the system can land and operate on the moon .
“It’s more than what’s needed to just live there,” said Pete McGrath, vice president of business development at Intuitive Machines. “It’s really about what’s needed to survive there and operate there.”