Intuitive Machines (LUNR) was selected by the Texas Space Commission to receive a grant of up to $10 million from the Space Exploration and Research Fund.

The space technology, infrastructure and services firm said Tuesday the funding will support its development of an Earth reentry vehicle and orbital fabrication lab designed to enable microgravity biomanufacturing.

The company also said the funding will serve as a critical risk-reduction platform for its future lunar sample return missions.

Intuitive Machines in 2022 started initial development of the preliminary design for an Earth reentry vehicle capable of supporting missions returning from low Earth orbit, the Moon, or Mars. The company had also partnered with Rhodium Scientific for commercial microgravity biomanufacturing in space.

Both the companies are developing and managing technical approaches to payload integration for both lunar and low Earth orbit missions, including safe reentry through Earth's atmosphere, the announcement states.

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