About half the size of a shoebox, NavCube3-mini weighs 3.5 pounds and consumes less than 20 watts. NASA designed it to acquire weak signals from the US GPS and European Galileo constellations well beyond the orbits those systems primarily serve. Its onboard software can calculate position, velocity and time without depending entirely on tracking commands from Earth.[1][2]
On Altus-1, the instrument will primarily demonstrate GNSS-based navigation for the relay spacecraft and collect performance data. It should not be confused with the services that Intuitive Machines ultimately plans to sell through the relay network.
Intuitive Machines intends to operate the satellites as links between lunar spacecraft or surface users and ground stations on Earth. The planned services include communications and data relay, along with positioning, navigation and timing support for landers, rovers, orbiters and eventual crewed systems.[4]
NASA selected Intuitive Machines in September 2024 under a Near Space Network contract with a ceiling of $4.82 billion across a five-year base period and five-year option. That figure is the contract’s maximum potential value, not guaranteed revenue. The initial task order covers progressive verification of relay capabilities before operational services enter NASA’s network.[5]
Intuitive Machines’ latest public schedule targets IM-3 for late 2026. The company says Altus-1 will be the first of five planned relay satellites, with later spacecraft required to expand coverage and complete the proposed constellation.[3]
