Intuitive Machines Adds Dymon’s Yaoki Commercial Lunar Rover to its Second Mission

Intuitive Machines, which develops space exploration and infrastructure systems, and Japan-based robotics company, Dymon Co., have signed an agreement to fly Dymon’s Yaoki rover on Intuitive Machines’ second mission to the Moon. Yaoki is expected to be flown to the lunar south pole on board Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lunar lander in the second half of 2023. After landing, Yaoki is expected to deploy from Nova-C to demonstrate Dymon’s lunar mobility technology designed by its founder and CEO, Shin-ichiro Nakajima.

The agreement leverages Intuitive’s Lunar Access Services and Lunar Data Services to land the Yaoki rover on the Moon and control it via secure lunar communications, the companies said.

“The commercial demand for lunar access is growing with each of Intuitive Machines’ four planned missions,” said Steve Altemus, co-founder, president CEO of Intuitive Machines. “The addition of Dymon’s Yaoki rover is another critical step towards Intuitive Machines participating in the creation and definition of the lunar economy.”

Intuitive Machines supplies space products and services to support sustained robotic and human exploration to the Moon, Mars, and beyond through four business units: Lunar Access Services, Orbital Services, Lunar Data Services, and Space Products and Infrastructure.

To learn more, visit the Intuitive Machines’ website here.