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Variable Interest Entities
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Variable Interest Entities
NOTE 14 - VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES
The Company determines whether joint ventures in which it has invested meet the criteria of a variable interest entity or “VIE” at the start of each new venture and when a reconsideration event has occurred. A VIE is a legal entity that satisfies any of the following characteristics: (a) the legal entity does not have sufficient equity investment at risk; (b) the equity
investors at risk as a group, lack the characteristics of a controlling financial interest; or (c) the legal entity is structured with disproportionate voting rights.
The Company consolidates a VIE if it is determined to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE. The primary beneficiary has both the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE.
Space Network Solutions, LLC

The Company participates in the Space Network Solutions joint venture with KBR, a leading provider of specialized engineering, and professional, scientific and technical services primarily to the U.S. federal government. Under the terms of the Amended Space Network Solutions limited liability company agreement, we hold a 90% interest in the Space Network Solutions and KBR hold a 10% interest. Space Network Solutions is a VIE and Intuitive Machines is the primary beneficiary.

Space Network Solutions was formed to provide cyber security as well as communication & tracking services using its expertise in developing secure ground system architecture for lunar space missions. In the second quarter of 2023, NASA awarded Space Network Solutions a cost-plus-fixed-fee indefinite-delivery, indefinite quantity contract to support work related to the Joint Polar Satellite System, NASA’s Exploration and In-space Services. Intuitive Machines and KBR entered into a separate joint venture agreement (the “OMES III JV Agreement”) within Space Network Solutions to execute the OMES III contract with a profits interest of 47% for Intuitive Machines and 53% for KBR. We have determined that the OMES III JV Agreement represents a silo within Space Network Solutions and is a standalone VIE. Intuitive Machines is the primary beneficiary of this silo based on the governance structure of the OMES III JV Agreement. As of March 31, 2024, SNS LLC had total assets of $35.6 million and total liabilities of $32.3 million. As of December 31, 2023, SNS LLC had total assets of $13.7 million and total liabilities of $12.0 million.
IX, LLC Joint Venture

The Company participates in the IX, LLC joint venture (“IX LLC JV”) with X-energy, a nuclear reactor and fuel design engineering company, developing high-temperature gas cooled nuclear reactors and fuel to power them. We hold a 51% interest in the IX LLC JV and X-energy holds a 49% interest. Kamal Ghaffarian is also the co-founder and current member of management of X-energy. Intuitive Machines and X-energy are common controlled entities. We have determined that IX, LLC JV is a variable interest entity and Intuitive Machines is the primary beneficiary because it is most closely associated with the activities of the joint venture. Therefore, we consolidate this VIE for financial reporting purposes.
The IX LLC JV was formed to pursue nuclear space propulsion and surface power systems in support of future space exploration goals. In the third quarter of 2022, the IX LLC JV received an award from Battelle Energy Alliance to design a fission surface power system that can operate on the surface of the Moon to support sustained lunar presence and exploration of Mars. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the IX LLC JV had no assets and no liabilities, associated with project execution activities subcontracted to the IX LLC JV partners and other third parties.