Bitcoin Miners, Quantum Computing Lead Rally: A Look at Wednesday’s Top 10 Gainers

4. Intuitive Machines Inc. (NASDAQ:LUNR)

Intuitive Machines (NASDAQ:LUNR) ended stronger on Wednesday, adding 14.10 percent to finish at $19.18 each after the company sealed a deal with Puli Space Technologies to investigate water ice at the Moon’s south pole.

Through the Puli Lunar Water Snooper (PLWS) attached to Intuitive Machines’ Micro Nova Hopper, the two companies will spearhead a mission to study water ice in the south pole region of the moon and provide the first direct surface measurements from a permanently shadowed crater.

The endeavor, backed by the European Space Agency (ESA), aims to deploy a neutron spectrometer to uncover valuable insights into lunar resources.

According to ESA, launching of the study is scheduled for late February this year.

Earlier this month, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) also selected Intuitive Machines (NASDAQ:LUNR) to expand its commercial direct-to-Earth capabilities, which is a mission-critical communication capability that allows spacecraft to transmit data directly to ground stations on Earth.

Under the agreement, Intuitive Machines (NASDAQ:LUNR) will receive two task order awards to support NASA’s Lunar Exploration Ground Segment, providing additional capacity to alleviate demand on the Deep Space Network and to meet the mission requirements for unique, highly elliptical orbits. The company also previously received a task order award for Subcategory 2.2 GEO to Cislunar Relay Services.