KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- U.S. Senator Bill Nelson and Space Shuttle Test Director Steve Altemus look at Columbia debris in KSC's RLV Hangar.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, left, and NASA Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate Thomas Zurbuchen, right, pose for a photograph with the representatives of the nine U.S. companies that are eligible to bid on NASA delivery services to the lunar surface through Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) contracts, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018 at NASA Headquarters in Washington. The representatives of the companies are: Steve Altemus, President and CEO of Intuitive Machines; 2nd from left, Sean Mahoney, CEO, Masten Space Systems Inc; Eric Salwan, Director of Commercial Business Development, Firefly Aerospace; Jennifer Jensen, Vice President, National Security & Space, Draper; Joe Landon, VP of Advanced Programs, Commercial Civil Space, Lockheed Martin Space; Steve Bailey, Deep Space Systems Inc; Daven Maharaj, Chief Operating Officer, Moon Express Inc; John Thornton, CEO, Astrobotic Technology Inc; and Jeff Patton, Chief Engineering Advisor, Orbit Beyond Inc, 2nd from right. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the RLV Hangar, Space Shuttle Test Director Steve Altemus (left) describes to U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (right) the images on an exhibit, part of the reconstruction efforts of Columbia. Accompanying them is JoAnn Morgan, director of KSC's External Relations and Business Development.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the RLV Hangar, NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe (left) is briefed on the status of the Space Shuttle Columbia accident investigation by Steve Altemus, a member of the Columbia Reconstruction Project Team. To date, more than 70,000 items have been delivered to KSC for use in the ongoing mishap investigation.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the RLV Hangar, Shuttle Test Director Steve Altemus (left), a member of the Columbia Reconstruction Project Team, discusses the status of the investigation into the Space Shuttle Columbia accident with NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe (right). To date, more than 70,000 items have been delivered to KSC for use in the ongoing mishap investigation.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the RLV Hangar, NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe (second from left) discusses the status of the investigation into the Space Shuttle Columbia accident with Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach (center) and Shuttle Test Director Steve Altemus (right), both members of the Columbia Reconstruction Project Team. To date, more than 70,000 items have been delivered to KSC for use in the ongoing mishap investigation.

Steve Altemus, chief executive officer and co-founder, Intuitive Machines, participates in a news conference Feb. 23, 2024, at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston to discuss the company’s Nova-C lander, called Odysseus, and its successful soft landing on the Moon Feb. 22, 2024. The mission is the first landing under NASA’s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative, and the first American lunar landing in more than 50 years.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the RLV Hangar, NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe (left) looks over pieces of debris from the Space Shuttle Columbia with Shuttle Test Director Steve Altemus, a member of the Columbia Reconstruction Project Team. To date, more than 70,000 items have been delivered to KSC for use in the ongoing mishap investigation.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the RLV Hangar, Shuttle Test Director Steve Altemus (right), a member of the Columbia Reconstruction Project Team, explains the fixture which holds the leading edge panels recovered from the left wing of Space Shuttle Columbia to NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe (left). To date, more than 70,000 items have been delivered to KSC for use in the ongoing mishap investigation.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the RLV Hangar, Shuttle Test Director Steve Altemus (right), a member of the Columbia Reconstruction Project Team, explains the fixture which holds the leading edge panels recovered from the left wing of Space Shuttle Columbia to NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe (left). To date, more than 70,000 items have been delivered to KSC for use in the ongoing mishap investigation.

In the RLV Hangar, Congressman Dave Weldon (left) listens to Steve Altemus, Space Shuttle test director. Weldon is visiting the site where pieces of Columbia debris are being examined and stored. Third from left is Center Director Roy Bridges. Workers will attempt to reconstruct the orbiter as part of the ongoing investigation of the accident that destroyed the Columbia and claimed the lives of seven astronauts as they returned to Earth after a 16-day research mission, STS-107.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the RLV Hangar, NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe (left) looks over pieces of debris from the Space Shuttle Columbia with Shuttle Test Director Steve Altemus, a member of the Columbia Reconstruction Project Team. To date, more than 70,000 items have been delivered to KSC for use in the ongoing mishap investigation.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the RLV Hangar, NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe (left) listens to a report from Shuttle Test Director Steve Altemus, a member of the Columbia Reconstruction Project Team, on the status of the investigation into the Space Shuttle Columbia accident. To date, more than 70,000 items have been delivered to KSC for use in the ongoing mishap investigation.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Congressman Dave Weldon (second from right) looks over the pieces of Columbia debris stored in the RLV Hangar. At right is Steve Altemus, Space Shuttle test director. Accompanying Weldon are (from left) Center Director Roy Bridges and External Relations and Business Development Director JoAnn Morgan. Workers will attempt to reconstruct the orbiter as part of the ongoing investigation of the accident that destroyed the Columbia and claimed the lives of seven astronauts as they returned to Earth after a 16-day research mission, STS-107.

Congressman Dave Weldon (second from right) looks over the pieces of Columbia debris stored in the RLV Hangar. At right is Steve Altemus, Space Shuttle test director . Accompanying Weldon are (left toright) Greg Katnick, Grant Case, J.B. Kump and Center Director Roy Bridges. Workers will attempt to reconstruct the orbiter as part of the ongoing investigation of the accident that destroyed the Columbia and claimed the lives of seven astronauts as they returned to Earth after a 16-day research mission, STS-107.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Shuttle Test Director Steve Altemus talks to the Columbia Reconstruction Project team before arrival of the final shipment of Columbia debris. The recovery efforts have been concluded in East Texas. Prior to this final shipment, the total number of items at KSC is 82,567, weighing 84,800 pounds or 38 percent of the total dry weight of Columbia. Of those items, 78,760 have been identified, with 753 placed on the left wing grid in the RLV Hangar.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the RLV Hangar, NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe (left) is briefed on the status of the investigation into the Space Shuttle Columbia accident by Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach (center) and Shuttle Test Director Steve Altemus (right), both members of the Columbia Reconstruction Project Team. To date, more than 70,000 items have been delivered to KSC for use in the ongoing mishap investigation.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the RLV Hangar, Space Shuttle Test Director Steve Altemus (left) shows former astronauts Jim Lovell (center) and Wally Schirra (right) a piece of debris from Columbia. The latter two visited several sites around the Center, encouraging workers to help get the space program "back on its feet." The RLV Hangar is where Columbia debris is being collected and examined as part of the investigation into the tragedy that claimed the orbiter and lives of seven astronauts returning from mission STS-107.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Steve Altemus, shuttle test director at KSC, provides expert information to the Columbia Accident Investigation Board. Over the course of two days, the Board's chairman, retired Navy Admiral Harold W. "Hal" Gehman Jr., and other board members have been hearing from experts discussing the role of the Kennedy Space Center in the Shuttle Program, Shuttle Safety and Debris Collection, Layout and Analysis and Forensic Metallurgy.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the RLV Hangar, NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe (left) looks over pieces of debris from the Space Shuttle Columbia with Shuttle Test Director Steve Altemus, a member of the Columbia Reconstruction Project Team. To date, more than 70,000 items have been delivered to KSC for use in the ongoing mishap investigation.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the RLV Hangar, Shuttle Test Director Steve Altemus (left), a member of the Columbia Reconstruction Project Team, discusses a piece of debris from the Space Shuttle Columbia with NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe (right). To date, more than 70,000 items have been delivered to KSC for use in the ongoing mishap investigation.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Center Director Roy Bridges (left) accompanies Congressman Dave Weldon (second from right) on his visit to the RLV Hangar where pieces of Columbia debris are being examined and stored. At right is Steve Altemus, Space Shuttle test director. Workers will attempt to reconstruct the orbiter as part of the ongoing investigation of the accident that destroyed the Columbia and claimed the lives of seven astronauts as they returned to Earth after a 16-day research mission, STS-107.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the RLV Hangar, NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe (second from left) listens as Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach (center) explains an aspect of the investigation into the Space Shuttle Columbia accident. On the right is Shuttle Test Director Steve Altemus, a member of the Columbia Reconstruction Project Team. To date, more than 70,000 items have been delivered to KSC for use in the ongoing mishap investigation.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the RLV Hangar, (from left) Lisa Malone, acting deputy director of External Relations & Business Development at KSC, former astronauts Jim Lovell and Wally Schirra, and Steve Altemus, Space Shuttle test director, look over pieces of Columbia debris. Lovell and Schirra visited several sites around the Center, encouraging workers to help get the space program "back on its feet." The RLV Hangar is where Columbia debris is being collected and examined as part of the investigation into the tragedy that claimed the orbiter and lives of seven astronauts returning from mission STS-107.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - During a visit to KSC, former astronaut Jim Lovell (far left) talks to (from right) Space Shuttle Test Director Steve Altemus, Launch Director Mike Leinbach, and reconstruction engineer John Cowart. Lovell, along with former astronaut Wally Schirra, visited KSC to talk about the space program and their experiences, as well as offer encouragement to workers to help get the space program "back on its feet." They visited several sites around the Center, including the RLV Hangar where Columbia debris is being collected and examined as part of the investigation into the tragedy that claimed the orbiter and lives of seven astronauts returning from mission STS-107.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the RLV Hangar, looking over a piece of Columbia debris are (from left) Launch Director Mike Leinbach, Acting Deputy Director of External Relations & Business Development Lisa Malone, Space Shuttle Test Director Steve Altemus, reconstruction engineer John Cowart, and former astronauts Wally Schirra and Jim Lovell. The latter two visited several sites around the Center, encouraging workers to help get the space program "back on its feet." The RLV Hangar is where Columbia debris is being collected and examined as part of the investigation into the tragedy that claimed the orbiter and lives of seven astronauts returning from mission STS-107.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Appearing before the Columbia Accident Investigation Board are (left Michael Rudolphi, deputy director of NASA's Stennis Space Center in Bay St. Louis, Miss., and (right) Steve Altemus, shuttle test director at KSC. Over the course of two days, the Board's chairman, retired Navy Admiral Harold W. "Hal" Gehman Jr., and other board members have been hearing from experts discussing the role of the Kennedy Space Center in the Shuttle Program, Shuttle Safety and Debris Collection, Layout and Analysis and Forensic Metallurgy.

For the first time in more than 50 years, new NASA science instruments and technology demonstrations are operating on the Moon following the first successful delivery of the agency’s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative. Experts from NASA and Intuitive Machines hosted a news conference Feb. 23, 2024, at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston to discuss the soft landing of the company’s Nova-C lander, called Odysseus. Participants in the briefing included (L-R): Steve Altemus, chief executive officer and co-founder, Intuitive Machines; Joel Kearns, deputy associate administrator for Exploration, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters in Washington; Tim Crain, chief technology officer and co-founder, Intuitive Machines; and Prasun Desai, deputy associate administrator, Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. Photo Credit: NASA/Robert Markowitz

For the first time in more than 50 years, new NASA science instruments and technology demonstrations are operating on the Moon following the first successful delivery of the agency’s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative. Experts from NASA and Intuitive Machines hosted a news conference Feb. 23, 2024, at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston to discuss the soft landing of the company’s Nova-C lander, called Odysseus. Participants in the briefing included (L-R): Steve Altemus, chief executive officer and co-founder, Intuitive Machines; Joel Kearns, deputy associate administrator for Exploration, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters in Washington; Tim Crain, chief technology officer and co-founder, Intuitive Machines; and Prasun Desai, deputy associate administrator, Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. Photo Credit: NASA/Robert Markowitz

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - During a visit to KSC, former astronauts Wally Schirra (second from left) and Jim Lovell (third from left) greet Space Shuttle Test Director Steve Altemus. At far left is is Lisa Malone, acting deputy director of External Relations & Business Development at KSC, and reconstruction engineer John Cowart (second from right). Lovell and Schirra visited KSC to talk about the space program and their experiences, as well as offer encouragement to workers to help get the space program "back on its feet." They visited several sites around the Center, including the RLV Hangar where Columbia debris is being collected and examined as part of the investigation into the tragedy that claimed the orbiter and lives of seven astronauts returning from mission STS-107.

For the first time in more than 50 years, new NASA science instruments and technology demonstrations are operating on the Moon following the first successful delivery of the agency’s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative. Experts from NASA and Intuitive Machines hosted a news conference Feb. 23, 2024, at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston to discuss the soft landing of the company’s Nova-C lander, called Odysseus. Participants in the briefing included (L-R): Steve Altemus, chief executive officer and co-founder, Intuitive Machines; Joel Kearns, deputy associate administrator for Exploration, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters in Washington; Tim Crain, chief technology officer and co-founder, Intuitive Machines; and Prasun Desai, deputy associate administrator, Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. Photo Credit: NASA/Robert Markowitz

For the first time in more than 50 years, new NASA science instruments and technology demonstrations are operating on the Moon following the first successful delivery of the agency’s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative. Experts from NASA and Intuitive Machines hosted a news conference Feb. 23, 2024, at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston to discuss the soft landing of the company’s Nova-C lander, called Odysseus. Participants in the briefing included (left to right): Steve Altemus, chief executive officer and co-founder, Intuitive Machines; Joel Kearns, deputy associate administrator for Exploration, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters in Washington; Tim Crain, chief technology officer and co-founder, Intuitive Machines; and Prasun Desai, deputy associate administrator, Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters.

For the first time in more than 50 years, new NASA science instruments and technology demonstrations are operating on the Moon following the first successful delivery of the agency’s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative. Experts from NASA and Intuitive Machines hosted a news conference Feb. 23, 2024, at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston to discuss the soft landing of the company’s Nova-C lander, called Odysseus. Participants in the briefing included (L-R): Steve Altemus, chief executive officer and co-founder, Intuitive Machines; Joel Kearns, deputy associate administrator for Exploration, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters in Washington; Tim Crain, chief technology officer and co-founder, Intuitive Machines; and Prasun Desai, deputy associate administrator, Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. Photo Credit: NASA/Robert Markowitz

For the first time in more than 50 years, new NASA science instruments and technology demonstrations are operating on the Moon following the first successful delivery of the agency’s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative. Experts from NASA and Intuitive Machines hosted a news conference Feb. 23, 2024, at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston to discuss the soft landing of the company’s Nova-C lander, called Odysseus. Participants in the briefing included (L-R): Steve Altemus, chief executive officer and co-founder, Intuitive Machines; Joel Kearns, deputy associate administrator for Exploration, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters in Washington; Tim Crain, chief technology officer and co-founder, Intuitive Machines; and Prasun Desai, deputy associate administrator, Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. Photo Credit: NASA/Robert Markowitz

For the first time in more than 50 years, new NASA science instruments and technology demonstrations are operating on the Moon following the first successful delivery of the agency’s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative. Experts from NASA and Intuitive Machines hosted a news conference Feb. 23, 2024, at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston to discuss the soft landing of the company’s Nova-C lander, called Odysseus. Participants in the briefing included (L-R): Steve Altemus, chief executive officer and co-founder, Intuitive Machines; Joel Kearns, deputy associate administrator for Exploration, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters in Washington; Tim Crain, chief technology officer and co-founder, Intuitive Machines; and Prasun Desai, deputy associate administrator, Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. Photo Credit: NASA/Robert Markowitz