NASA Plans to Rollback Artemis II Launch
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 23 2026
0mins
Should l Buy LUNR?
Source: stocktwits
- Launch Plan Change: NASA announced it will rollback the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft for Artemis II on February 24, which will “assuredly impact” the March launch window, indicating challenges in launch preparations.
- Technical Issues Impact: The interruption in helium flow to the SLS rocket's upper stage has led NASA engineers to troubleshoot, causing delays from the original launch date of February 6, reflecting the complexities of technical readiness.
- Investor Sentiment Fluctuation: Intuitive Machines' stock rose nearly 9% last week, but another delay in Artemis II could test investor appetite, with a 2.4% drop in pre-market trading on Sunday.
- Market Outlook Analysis: Despite an 11% decline in stock price over the past year, Intuitive Machines is still up over 8% in 2023, indicating market interest in its potential role in NASA projects and future growth prospects.
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Analyst Views on LUNR
Wall Street analysts forecast LUNR stock price to fall
10 Analyst Rating
8 Buy
1 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 20.240
Low
9.50
Averages
17.74
High
25.00
Current: 20.240
Low
9.50
Averages
17.74
High
25.00
About LUNR
Intuitive Machines, Inc. is a space technology, infrastructure, and services company. It is a provider and supplier of space products and services that enable sustained robotic and human exploration to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Its services include delivery services, data transmission services, and infrastructure as a service. Its delivery services provide transportation and delivery of payloads, such as satellites, scientific instruments and cargo to various destinations in space, in addition to rideshare delivery and lunar surface access. Its data transmission services offerings include the collection, processing, and interpretation of space-based data, utilizing applications, such as command, control, communications, reconnaissance and prospecting. Its infrastructure as a service delivers space assets, performing tasks and making decisions without human intervention that are designed to perform essential functions, such as navigation, scientific data collection, and others.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Acquisition Rumors Boost Stocks: Multiple space companies saw stock price surges due to reports of Amazon's acquisition talks with Globalstar, whose shares rose 13.43% to $9.20, indicating strong market demand for satellite internet services and investor optimism.
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- SpaceX IPO Anticipation: SpaceX is reportedly seeking a staggering $1.75 trillion market valuation and could go public as early as June, which would further attract market attention to the space sector and potentially drive up related companies' stock prices.
- NASA Contract Fuels Growth: Intuitive Machines secured a $180 million contract from NASA to deliver payloads to the Moon's surface, enhancing its market position and providing strong support for its leadership in space infrastructure development.
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- Amazon Acquisition Plans: Amazon is reportedly in talks to acquire Globalstar to accelerate its satellite internet service rollout, which could significantly enhance its competitive position in the communications market.
- SpaceX IPO Potential: SpaceX has quietly filed for an IPO, with a staggering potential valuation of $1.75 trillion, which is expected to draw further investor attention to the massive growth potential of the space market, with the IPO possibly occurring in June 2026.
- NASA Contract Support: Intuitive Machines secured a $180 million contract from NASA to deliver payloads to the Moon's surface, which not only boosts the company's market position but also lays the groundwork for its future space exploration projects.
See More
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- Investor Interest: The rising attention on space stocks, particularly in light of NASA's successful progress with the Artemis program, may attract more capital into this emerging sector.
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- High Demand for Call Options: Notably, the $25 strike call option has seen significant activity with 2,842 contracts traded today, representing around 284,200 underlying shares of LUNR, suggesting that investors are optimistic about the stock's potential for future gains.
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See More
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- Surging Market Demand: Following the successful launch of NASA's Artemis II mission, Intuitive Machines' technology is pivotal for lunar exploration, with revenue expected to soar nearly 350% to $944 million, indicating strong market demand and future profitability potential.
- Technological Innovation: The company's Nova-C lunar lander can autonomously deliver 130 kilograms of payload to the moon's surface using methane as rocket fuel, enhancing the company's technological prowess and laying the groundwork for future lunar colonization.
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- Long-Term Growth Outlook: As confidence in safe lunar travel increases, Intuitive Machines' growth opportunities will expand, with projected revenue exceeding $1.4 billion by 2028, underscoring the company's strategic significance in the aerospace sector.
See More
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- Investment in Hypersonic Weapons: The Air Force allocates $387.1 million to resume production of the Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon and $802.8 million for the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile flight testing, indicating a shift in defense spending towards advanced technology weapons.
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