US firm set to buy satellite station in £37m deal

9 hours ago

Dan WareingSouth West

News image — The deal would see Intuitive Machines add Goonhilly's 44 antennas to its network

Goonhilly Earth Station A drone shot of the satellite. It is surrounded by single level buildings and fields. — The deal would see Intuitive Machines add Goonhilly's 44 antennas to its network

A US aerospace company has announced plans to buy a satellite earth station in Cornwall.

Intuitive Machine (IM) revealed it was to acquire Goonhilly Earth Station, Helston, as part of efforts to boost its deep space communications network.

The £37m deal includes the station's 44 antennas, as well as the Goonhilly Lunar and Deep Space, believed to be the world's first private deep space communications network.

Goonhilly said the move, which is set to be completed later this year, would "directly support the next era of lunar exploration".

"Goonhilly has spent years building a world class deep space communications capability," said Kenn Herskind from Goonhilly.

"Joining IM will allow us to scale that capability globally and directly support the next era of lunar exploration.

"Together, we will be creating a commercial lunar communications network that is interoperable, resilient, and ready to support Artemis and international missions."

IM said its customers "had been clear that they wanted a single, integrated, and resilient solution for their communications".

"Goonhilly will provide the backbone for this network, scales our global ground presence, and will bring a strategic core competency to the Intuitive Machines team," said Steve Altemus, CEO of IM.