Intuitive Machines to Expand Beyond Lunar Missions with $800 Million Acquisition of Lanteris Space Systems

/in /tarafından

Intuitive Machines announced on Tuesday that it will acquire Lanteris Space Systems — formerly Maxar Space Systems — from private equity firm Advent International in an $800 million deal aimed at transforming the company into a full-spectrum space services provider. The acquisition marks a major strategic shift for the Houston-based lunar lander manufacturer, broadening its scope well beyond the Moon.

The transaction, comprising $450 million in cash and $350 million in stock, is expected to close in the first quarter of next year pending regulatory approval. Following the news, Intuitive Machines’ shares fell about 5% in premarket trading.

CEO Steve Altemus said the acquisition “moves Intuitive Machines beyond the Moon and into a wider range of space projects.” The combined company will generate an estimated $850 million in annual revenue and hold about $920 million in future contracts as of September 30.

Lanteris builds satellites and spacecraft used for defense, communications, and scientific missions. It was previously the satellite manufacturing arm of Maxar Technologies, which Advent took private in 2023 for $4 billion. Advent will retain a minority stake in the merged entity.

The deal follows Intuitive Machines’ recent acquisition of deep-space navigation firm KinetX and several new U.S. government contracts, as the company positions itself as a key player in both lunar and orbital missions.

Separately, the company reported third-quarter revenue of $52.4 million, below analyst expectations of $68.1 million, and a net loss of $10 million, according to LSEG data.

Researchers Invent Sustainable Way to Decompose and Repurpose Teflon

/in /tarafından

Eco-Friendly Teflon Recycling Breakthrough
Scientists have developed a simple and environmentally conscious method to break down and reuse Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene, PTFE), a highly durable plastic widely used in products ranging from non-stick cookware to electronic components. The process uses sodium metal to cleave Teflon’s notoriously strong carbon-fluorine bonds at room temperature, without the need for toxic solvents. This reaction produces harmless carbon and sodium fluoride, the latter of which can be repurposed in other fluorine-containing products such as toothpaste and water fluoridation. Devamını Oku

Scientists Build Microscopic Engine Producing Heat Equivalent to 13 Million Degrees Celsius Without Combustion

/in /tarafından

In a remarkable experiment that redefines the limits of thermodynamics, scientists have created a microscopic engine capable of reaching an effective temperature of 13 million degrees Celsius—hotter than the Sun’s core, yet without producing any actual heat. The device consists of a single glass bead only 5 micrometres wide, suspended in an electric field inside a vacuum chamber. By shaking the bead’s energy through an oscillating voltage, researchers made it move so violently that its kinetic energy mimicked temperatures that would otherwise vaporize any known material. Despite the staggering “heat,” the bead itself remained at room temperature, offering a new perspective on how motion and energy interplay at the quantum and microscale levels. Devamını Oku