Altus 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Altus 1 [Intuitive Machines]

Altus (formerky known as Khon or Khonstellation) is a planned constellation of five lunar communications relay satellites being developed and operated by Intuitive Machines of the United States. The first satellite, Altus-1, is scheduled for delivery to lunar orbit in 2026.

The satellites are intended to provide communications and data relay services between spacecraft operating in the lunar region and ground stations on Earth. The constellation is being developed under a NASA Near Space Network contract covering communication and navigation services for missions from Earth’s surface to beyond the Moon.

Altus-1 is planned to enter lunar orbit in 2026 with Nova-C IM-3. The second and third satellites were scheduled to launch on Intuitive Machines' Nova-C IM-4 and are intended to support NASA's Artemis campaign. Two additional satellites were planned to complete the five-satellite constellation. Later the plan was changed to launch the four satellites together on a dedicated launch vehicle in 2028.

The constellation is designed to provide increased data transmission capacity and support autonomous operations for lunar missions, forming part of Intuitive Machines' planned commercial lunar communications infrastructure