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Intuitive Machines(LUNR) - 2024 Q2 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics - Revenue for Q2 2024 was 41.4million,morethandoublethesamequarterlastyear(41.4 million, more than double the same quarter last year (18 million) [5][12] - Revenue for the first half of 2024 was 114.5million,exceedingallof2023[5]OperatinglossforQ22024was114.5 million, exceeding all of 2023 [5] - Operating loss for Q2 2024 was 28.2 million, compared to 13.2 million in Q2 2023, driven by the completion of the IM-1 mission, contract modifications, and increased SG&A costs [14] - Cash balance remained strong at 31.6 million, with 21.5millionpaidforlaunchproviderpaymentsand21.5 million paid for launch provider payments and 5 million of debt retired in Q2 [15] - Free cash flow in Q2 was an outflow of 33.5million,primarilyduetolaunchproviderpayments[16]ContractedbacklogattheendofQ2was33.5 million, primarily due to launch provider payments [16] - Contracted backlog at the end of Q2 was 213 million, with new awards such as the 29millionforPhase1oftheLTVSproject[17]BusinessLineDataandKeyMetricsThecompanyhasbookednearly29 million for Phase 1 of the LTVS project [17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics - The company has booked nearly 70 million of new backlog in 2024, with significant opportunities still on the horizon [5] - Intuitive Machines has sold out rideshare capacity on its second mission and secured commercial rideshare delivery services for asteroid mining on its third mission [7] - The company completed the system requirements review for its Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services program, validating its wheeled vehicle and heavy cargo class lander designs [8] - Intuitive Machines submitted a letter to NASA expressing interest in commercializing the NASA VIPER rover system, leveraging its heavy cargo class lander capabilities [9] Market Data and Key Metrics - The company is advancing its three pillars of space commercialization: delivery services, data transmission services, and autonomous operations [4] - Intuitive Machines is uniquely positioned to win the Near Space Network Services (NSNS) contract, which is critical for enabling comprehensive data services around the moon [10] - The company is focused on establishing itself as a pioneering space exploration company, with the addition of NSNS positioning it to offer key services for a robust lunar economy [11] Company Strategy and Industry Competition - Intuitive Machines is leveraging government contracts to create and mature commercial services, a model it believes is a winning formula [7] - The company is focused on developing capabilities for delivery services, data transmission services, and autonomous operations, which are essential for future space exploration [6] - Intuitive Machines is competing in the LTV bidding pool as the only prime contractor with demonstrated experience delivering, transmitting data from, and autonomously operating on the lunar surface [8] - The company is responding to China's advancements in lunar exploration by emphasizing the importance of VIPER's science for US space exploration [9] Management Commentary on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management raised the low end of the full-year 2024 revenue guidance from 200millionto200 million to 210 million, resulting in a new range of 210millionto210 million to 240 million [5][17] - The company is confident in its cash position, with sufficient funds to cover expected operations for the next 12 months [15] - Intuitive Machines is focused on key program awards, including the NSNS and CP-22 contracts, which are expected to drive accelerated growth and solidify its long-term business plan [17][18] Other Important Information - The company has moved into its new Houston Spaceport facility, which allows for the simultaneous construction of multiple spacecraft [7] - Intuitive Machines has designed and manufactured the majority of its flight hardware for its third mission and is preparing for assembly and integration [7] - The company is working on a coalition to commercialize the VIPER rover mission, aiming for a late 2027 timeframe [45][46] Q&A Session Summary Question: Timing and implications of NASA's response to Intuitive Machines' VIPER submission [19] - NASA canceled VIPER due to budget concerns, and Intuitive Machines is proposing a commercial mission to fly VIPER using its Nova-D heavy cargo lander [19][20] - The company is forming a coalition with commercial companies, international partners, and universities to offset costs and improve mission economics [20][21] Question: Milestones for the lunar communications network [22] - Intuitive Machines is aiming to deploy a communication satellite data relay satellite by Mission 3, with key milestones including the NSNS contract awards expected in August and September [22][23] Question: Facilities cost and CapEx [24] - The company has essentially completed its CapEx investment for the new Lunar Production & Operations Center, with no large CapEx requirements expected going forward [24] Question: Delays in NSNS and CP-22 contract awards [26] - The company expects the NSNS and CP-22 contract awards in August and September, respectively, with no significant delays anticipated [26] Question: Investment required for VIPER [27] - Intuitive Machines is still assessing the costs associated with VIPER, but believes the $84 million budget left by NASA is not reflective of commercial costs [27][28] Question: Milestone payments for IM-2 [29] - The company is tracking to a December-January launch window for IM-2, with final milestone payments expected in 2025 [29][30] Question: OMES contract progress and margins [36][37] - The OMES contract is back on schedule and within budget, with high single-digit margins expected for the service contract [37][39] Question: Diversification beyond NASA [42] - Intuitive Machines is pursuing DoD work, including rideshare payloads and a subcontract with another commercial entity, and is executing on the JETSON low-power contract [42][43] Question: Potential move of VIPER to Nova-D mission [45] - The company is in discussions with NASA and aims to launch VIPER commercially by late 2027, pending feedback from NASA [45][46] Question: Timing of NSNS contract award [47] - Intuitive Machines expects the NSNS contract awards in August and September, with no impact anticipated from the election or budget flush [47][49] Question: Commercial demand for LTV [50] - The company sees significant commercial interest in the LTV, with plans to monetize it during the five months it is not operated by NASA [50][51]