Space Exploration Stock Soars on Billion-Dollar NASA Contract

Group 1 - Intuitive Machines Inc's stock has surged by 49.4% to $8.06 following a $4.8 billion contract with NASA for near space missions, including the launch of lunar satellite constellations [1] - The stock has fully recovered from a downturn in late February, attributed to the moon lander Odysseus tipping over, and is up approximately 216% year-to-date [2] - Options trading activity has increased significantly, with 127,000 calls and 42,000 puts traded, which is four times the average daily options volume, indicating strong investor interest [3] Group 2 - The September 10 call option is the most popular among traders, with new positions being opened [3] - A significant portion of the stock, 24.3%, is sold short, and it would take shorts two days to cover at the stock's average trading pace, potentially contributing to the stock's surge [3]