NASA has awarded Intuitive Machines a contract of up to $4.82 billion for communication and navigation services for missions in the near space region, the space exploration company said on Tuesday.

The award of a NASA contract worth up to $4.82 billion has cemented Intuitive Machines Inc.’s position as a key partner in the space agency’s ambitious plans for lunar exploration, according to analyst firm Benchmark.

NASA has awarded Intuitive Machines a contract of up to $4.82 billion for communication and navigation services for missions in the near space region, the space exploration company said on Tuesday. Shares of Intuitive climbed 38% to $7.

To establish a permanent base on the Moon and explore its surface, NASA needs a 21st century communications infrastructure. It chose a small Houston, Texas-based commercial space company to do the job.

NASA has selected Houston-based Intuitive Machines for a communication and navigation services contract geared toward future space missions.

The space technology provider announced a contract with NASA that could award some $4.8 billion in work over 10 years.