US Firm to Acquire Satellite Earth Station in Cornwall
A US aerospace company, Intuitive Machine (IM), has announced its intention to purchase the Goonhilly Earth Station located in Helston, Cornwall. This acquisition is part of IM's strategy to enhance its deep space communications network.
The transaction, valued at £37 million, encompasses the station's 44 antennas and includes the Goonhilly Lunar and Deep Space network, which is considered the world's first private deep space communications system.
Goonhilly has stated that the acquisition, expected to be finalised later this year, will "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."
Intuitive Machine highlighted that its customers have expressed a preference for a unified, integrated, and resilient communications solution.
"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.
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