Intuitive Machines shares rise 11.44% intraday following AFRL deal and lunar order announcement.

Intuitive Machines (NASDAQ:LUNR) rose 11.44% intraday following reports of a $94 million contract with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and a $110 million lunar lander order from NASA, announced on December 20, 2025. These developments reinforced the company’s positioning in defense and space exploration sectors, with analysts upgrading the stock to "Strong-Buy" at KeyCorp the same day. The news aligned with broader optimism around Trump’s proposed space policy framework, which emphasized expanded lunar missions, further boosting investor sentiment. While insider selling and mixed analyst ratings emerged in early January 2026, the intraday surge was directly tied to the late-December contract wins and strategic validation of Intuitive Machines’ lunar technology.