Intuitive Machines is fast becoming a key player in the burgeoning era of lunar exploration.
Its on a mission to be the Moons go-to courier, and its doing so with NASA backing.
He spent 13 years at NASAs Johnson Space Center, contributing to cutting-edge aerospace science.
Artist’s depiction of Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lander on the Moon.Image: Intuitive Machines
Imagine thatthat we terrestrially demonstrated this in a program at the Johnson Space Center.
And that was a small team environment, Crain said.
This experience influenced his decision to co-found Intuitive Machines in 2013 with Stephen Altemus and Kam Ghaffarian.
Their goal was to translate spaceflight engineering principles to other sectors, such as environmental and biomedical engineering.
Armed with the $2.6 billion contract, we were off and running, he said.
Crain says NASAs expanding partnerships have created a more inclusive and vibrant space industry ecosystem.
At Intuitive Machines, teams strategically decide whether to innovate in-house or collaborate externally.
The universe doesnt care who solved the problem.
And I said, Youve convinced me; this is great.
Go make it so.
Small teams are key, he said.
To counter this, Intuitive Machines employs tiger teamssmall and agile groups designed to tackle specific challenges.
We create a tiger team to solve a problem and then disband it, Crain explained.
This strategy, he said, allows for flexibility, and without bogging down the larger team structure.
We view ourselves as a space infrastructure company, he explained.
That includes transportation to the Moon and to the lunar environment, which encompasses surface operations.
Let them be excellent at that, he said.
Crain said the companys offerings are continuing to evolve.
Crain says thats an oversimplification.
Well have to rethink that, but you do that in the market anyway.
Nothing ever stays still.
Our particular implementation for the Lunar Terrain Vehicle is a lot like a tractor, he said.
But we are chipping away at that challenge, he said.
But the pace at which companies are addressing this challenge is really picking up.
And its going to happen within my career, which is fantastic.
News from the future, delivered to your present.
