SSLC wins additional PRESSURMAXX tank orders for Intuitive Machines’ IM-3 and IM-4 moon missions

Scorpius Space Launch Company said Intuitive Machines ordered more PRESSURMAXX cryogenic tanks for the IM-3 and IM-4 lunar missions, deepening a relationship that has supplied every Intuitive Machines moon lander so far. The orders reinforce SSLC’s role in NASA’s CLPS campaign and the agency’s broader Moon Base effort.

Why it matters: - The new tank orders keep Scorpius Space Launch Company at the center of Intuitive Machines’ lunar lander propulsion system as the mission cadence expands. - The hardware supports NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, which is becoming a proving ground for the agency’s Moon Base initiative. - The tanks help preserve lander mass for payloads, a key advantage as lunar cargo missions scale up.

What happened: - Scorpius Space Launch Company said Intuitive Machines placed additional orders for PRESSURMAXX all-composite Type V cryogenic propellant tanks. - The tanks will support the IM-3 and IM-4 lunar missions. - The partnership extends a supply relationship that has covered every Intuitive Machines lunar lander flown to date. - The announcement was made in Torrance, California, on Aug. 27, 2026.

The details: - PRESSURMAXX tanks store and manage liquid oxygen and liquid methane propellants used by Intuitive Machines’ engines. - The liner-less, all-carbon-composite Type V tanks flew on IM-1 in February 2024 and IM-2 in March 2025. - IM-1 became the first commercial spacecraft to soft-land on the Moon. - The IM-1 and IM-2 flights validated the tanks at Technology Readiness Level 9. - SSLC said the tanks were the first flight-qualified cryogenic Type V composite tanks to operate beyond the Van Allen belt and land on the Moon. - IM-3 is targeted to launch in early 2027 to the Reiner Gamma lunar swirl. - SSLC also said newly ordered tank sets will support IM-5. - The company said PRESSURMAXX tanks are qualified for cryogenic temperatures as low as -196 C and pressures up to 552 bar. - The unibody, liner-less construction eliminates the weight penalty of traditional metallic-lined tanks. - SSLC said the lighter tank architecture allows more of the lander mass budget to go to payload.

Between the lines: - The repeated orders point to PRESSURMAXX becoming a baseline part of Intuitive Machines’ lunar lander design. - The flight history gives the tank system a built-in credibility advantage as Intuitive Machines scales toward more frequent Moon deliveries. - SSLC’s role reflects a broader shift in lunar exploration toward reusable supplier ecosystems rather than one-off mission hardware. - A company executive said reliable cryogenic tank systems are a key enabling technology for liquid methane and liquid oxygen propulsion.

What's next: - Intuitive Machines is expected to use the newly ordered tanks on upcoming lunar missions as its CLPS campaign expands. - IM-3 remains targeted for early 2027. - SSLC said it will continue developing advanced composite pressure vessel technology for future space exploration applications.

The bottom line: - SSLC’s tank business is now closely tied to Intuitive Machines’ lunar pipeline, with proven flight hardware becoming a recurring part of NASA-linked Moon mission planning.