A sphere is inscribed in a cube that has a surface area of $ 24$ square meters. A second cube is then inscribed within the sphere. What is the surface area in square meters of the inner cube?

$ \textbf{(A)}\ 3 \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 6 \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 8 \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 9 \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 12$
1. **Determine the side length of the outer cube:**
   - The surface area of the outer cube is given as \(24\) square meters.
   - A cube has 6 faces, so the area of each face is:
     \[
     \frac{24}{6} = 4 \text{ square meters}
     \]
   - The side length \(s\) of the outer cube can be found by taking the square root of the area of one face:
     \[
     s = \sqrt{4} = 2 \text{ meters}
     \]

2. **Relate the side length of the outer cube to the diameter of the sphere:**
   - The sphere is inscribed in the outer cube, so the diameter of the sphere is equal to the side length of the cube:
     \[
     \text{Diameter of the sphere} = 2 \text{ meters}
     \]

3. **Determine the side length of the inner cube:**
   - The inner cube is inscribed within the sphere, so the diagonal of the inner cube is equal to the diameter of the sphere.
   - The formula for the space diagonal \(d\) of a cube with side length \(x\) is:
     \[
     d = x\sqrt{3}
     \]
   - Setting the space diagonal equal to the diameter of the sphere:
     \[
     x\sqrt{3} = 2
     \]
   - Solving for \(x\):
     \[
     x = \frac{2}{\sqrt{3}} = \frac{2\sqrt{3}}{3}
     \]

4. **Calculate the surface area of the inner cube:**
   - The surface area \(A\) of a cube with side length \(x\) is given by:
     \[
     A = 6x^2
     \]
   - Substituting \(x = \frac{2\sqrt{3}}{3}\):
     \[
     A = 6 \left( \frac{2\sqrt{3}}{3} \right)^2 = 6 \left( \frac{4 \cdot 3}{9} \right) = 6 \left( \frac{12}{9} \right) = 6 \left( \frac{4}{3} \right) = 8 \text{ square meters}
     \]

The final answer is \(\boxed{8}\)