New York, February 9, 2026, 10:28 AM EST — Regular session
- LUNR shares are on the move once more, early trading bringing a fresh surge in volume.
- With short interest running high, the stock remains vulnerable—sharp squeezes and snapback reversals can hit without much warning.
- Focus remains fixed on NASA’s lunar-delivery milestones, along with the schedule for the next earnings report.
Intuitive Machines, Inc rode a roughly 13% surge Monday, its shares catching another wave of brisk trading. The stock tacked on $2.23 to hit $19.75 as of 10:28 a.m. EST, after briefly touching $19.84. Volume cleared 44 million shares by mid-morning. Over the last 52 weeks, Intuitive Machines has swung between $6.14 and $23.32.
Short interest is still hefty here. MarketBeat data put about 27.3 million shares sold short as of Jan. 15, nearly 25% of the public float. The firm lists average daily volume around 11.7 million shares. That combination means any uptick in buying can send the stock whipping higher or lower in a hurry. 1
That moon narrative isn’t fading. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk told Reuters the company is now putting its weight behind plans for a “self-growing city” on the moon, while the Mars ambition remains in the mix. 2
Intuitive Machines, known for its lunar landers, spacecraft, and ground systems, has secured contracts via NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services, or CLPS. Under the program, NASA opts to purchase delivery and mission operations from private companies rather than managing the spacecraft itself. The total contract value could hit $2.6 billion by 2028, according to NASA. On NASA’s delivery schedule, Intuitive Machines’ IM-3 mission is pegged for 2026, listed with launches from Firefly and Draper. 3
Intuitive Machines lists the IM-3 mission for 2026, launching atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 out of Kennedy Space Center and targeting the Reiner Gamma region. The company also plans to send its inaugural lunar data relay satellite on that same flight, kicking off efforts to establish a commercial communications network around the Moon, according to its website. 4
Investors haven’t stopped sizing up Intuitive Machines’ manufacturing ambitions. Back on Jan. 13, the company closed its $800 million buyout of Lanteris Space Systems—$450 million cash, $350 million in stock. CEO Steve Altemus called it a move that brings “flight-proven manufacturing at scale.” 5
Monday’s action brings the usual question back to the surface: is this spike mostly traders jockeying for position, or does it actually reflect fresh contract or mission specifics? With a stock this volatile, the difference can disappear fast.
It’s a double-edged sword. Intuitive Machines is still losing money, Simply Wall St noted, and depends on when contracts land. The company’s appetite for bolt-on acquisitions adds fresh integration headaches—any slip-up or delayed mission could sour sentiment in a hurry. 6
All eyes turn to earnings next, with the Zacks calendar circling March 24 as the date to watch. Before that, traders are expected to react mostly to any NASA updates or new clues about the 2026 mission schedule. 7
