A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Nova-C lander for the IM-1 mission launches from pad 39A on the Kennedy Space Center at 1:05 a.m. EDT on February 15, 2024 in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Paul Hennessy | Anadolu | Getty Images
Shares of Intuitive Machines spiked in early trading on Thursday, as the space company began its first mission to the moon’s surface earlier within 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 14% up from its previous close at $4.98 a share. The corporate went public via a SPAC merger last 12 months and, despite nearly doubling thus far this 12 months, trades at about half the stock’s debut price.
Before the launch, Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus told CNBC that shareholders needs to be reassured that “we built resiliency into our business in order that we’re not a one-off form of company that built a lunar lander and goes to throw it to the moon.”
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“You may earn cash a complete lot of how – but this is not only about getting cash. It’s about achieving something while running a business and innovating,” he said.
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