Intuitive Machines to buy Goonhilly, COMSAT

Intuitive Machines said on May 14 that it had entered a definitive agreement to acquire Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd. and Goonhilly USA Inc., which does business as COMSAT, in a move that expands the company’s ground communications footprint beyond lunar landers and relay ambitions. The Houston-based company said the assets will be folded into its integrated space-to-ground network, adding capacity for deep-space communications, data relay, and position, navigation and timing services. (investors.intuitivemachines.com) The acquisition includes Goonhilly’s Lunar and Deep Space Communications, Commercial Satcom, and Defense and Security divisions. Intuitive Machines said the deal is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals. ### What exactly is Intuitive Machines buying? (insidegnss.com) Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd. operates deep-space and satellite communications infrastructure in the United Kingdom, while Goonhilly USA, branded as COMSAT, gives the group a U.S. operating arm. Intuitive Machines said the purchase covers both entities and the operating divisions tied to lunar, commercial satellite, and defense work. The assets include 44 antennas that will be added to Intuitive Machines’ existing network, according to the company and industry reports. Inside GNSS said those assets include the 32-meter GHY6 antenna and the cryogenically cooled 30-meter GHY3, with support across X-, S-, and Ka-/Ku-band frequencies. (investors.intuitivemachines.com) ### Why does a lunar company want a ground-station operator? Steve Altemus, Intuitive Machines’ co-founder and chief executive, said customers want “a single, integrated, and resilient solution” for communications and PNT as missions accelerate. He said Goonhilly would provide “the backbone” for a network intended to support missions across low Earth orbit, lunar orbit, and cislunar space. (investors.intuitivemachines.com) Cornwall, where Goonhilly is based, gives Intuitive Machines a U.K. site that the company said expands visibility across major Earth-viewing arcs and increases contact opportunities for lunar and deep-space missions. The company said Goonhilly’s experience in antenna planning, scheduling and station maintenance would strengthen end-to-end mission support. (investors.intuitivemachines.com) ### How does this fit with Intuitive Machines’ recent expansion? January 2026 brought Intuitive Machines’ acquisition of Lanteris Space Systems, formerly Maxar Space Systems, for about $800 million, according to Inside GNSS. The same report said the company also completed a subsequent $175 million strategic equity investment and has been building out communications and navigation capabilities alongside spacecraft operations. (investors.intuitivemachines.com) The company said the Goonhilly deal broadens its customer reach by adding civil, commercial and government users that complement Intuitive Machines’ existing base. Via Satellite described the transaction as the company’s third recent acquisition after Lanteris and deep-space navigation provider KinetX. (investors.intuitivemachines.com) ### What are investors and analysts watching around the deal? Deutsche Bank on May 20 raised its price target on Intuitive Machines to $34 from $22 and maintained a Buy rating, according to stock-tracking services that cited the note. The cited rationale was that the company has “multiple awards in the pipeline.” Intuitive Machines also reported record first-quarter 2026 revenue and raised full-year guidance to $900 million to $1 billion, while carrying a backlog of $1.1 billion, according to Inside GNSS. (insidegnss.com) That report also said the company had been selected for the U.S. Air Force’s $1.8 billion Andromeda contract vehicle for space domain awareness. ### What still has to happen before the acquisition closes? The proposed acquisition still requires approval under the U.K. (investors.intuitivemachines.com) National Security and Investment Act 2021 and approval from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, according to Inside GNSS. Goonhilly is expected to remain in Cornwall as a wholly owned subsidiary after closing. Q3 2026 is the timeline Intuitive Machines has given for closing the transaction. (stockanalysis.com) Investors will also be watching for any company filing or update that puts a final value on the cash-and-stock consideration, which Houston InnovationMap reported at about $49.3 million. (houston.innovationmap.com) (insidegnss.com)