Day and night shots of Mira and its Saiph thrusters in Earth eclipse. The night image, captured last Tuesday, shows our seventh burn, where all eight thrusters fired for ~60 seconds. They imparted 34 m/s delta-v, performed a plane change, and lowered Mira's orbit by ~30 km.
March 21st fireside chat "To LEO, GEO, and Beyond: A Conversation With Tom Mueller"
After four months navigating orbit, #Mira — our first orbital transfer vehicle — has successfully completed all of its primary mission objectives!We celebrated the final milestone on Thursday with our eighth and most significant burn: 75 seconds in duration, achieving a 150 km apogee raise. We think this is the largest single maneuver to date by a nitrous-based propulsion system and the largest orbit raise by any OTV on its debut mission. The ability to change an orbit by hundreds of kilometers within minutes demonstrates the type of rapid maneuvering capability Impulse wants to bring to the industry. Mira's time in orbit isn't over yet — we are continuing to test and fly, prepping for our next mission launching later this year.All of this underscores the exceptional capabilities of the team we're building. If you'd like to join it, check our careers page (impulsespace.pinpointhq.com), or if you're attending the #SpaceSymposium next week, talk with us in person.
Probably nothing new discussed here, the video is 6 months old, but it's always a joy to listen to Tom discuss space subjects. The first part of this interview is about Tom's experiences working with SpaceX, then Tom goes into Impulse Space.---
I don't get it.F9-5500 can inject 5500kg of payload on a GTO orbit (185km x 35786km).With an additional Helios kick stage, the payload mass on the same GTO orbit grows to 7500kg.How can the kick stage be so efficient compared to the F9 second stage to add an extra 2000kg of payload (and compensating for its own mass) ?This is truly outstanding.
Quote from: nicfit on 08/01/2024 08:13 amI don't get it.F9-5500 can inject 5500kg of payload on a GTO orbit (185km x 35786km).With an additional Helios kick stage, the payload mass on the same GTO orbit grows to 7500kg.How can the kick stage be so efficient compared to the F9 second stage to add an extra 2000kg of payload (and compensating for its own mass) ?This is truly outstanding.A kick stage often improves performance to high energy orbits regardless of whether the new stage is high performing. For example solid kick stages are used fairly frequently despite having lousy specific impulse and dry mass. The reason a kick stage helps is it's smaller than the existing stage so more of the performance goes to accelerating useful payload and less goes to accelerating the stage's dry mass.
🚀 Exciting News from Impulse Space!We are thrilled to announce two major advancements in our mission to revolutionize in-space transportation:(1/4)
1️⃣ GEO Rideshare Program: Our new program, featuring the high-performance Helios kick stage, aims to drastically reduce the cost of transporting small satellites to Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) and other high-energy orbits. The first mission is set for 2027. (2/4)
2️⃣ Upgraded Mira Design: Our orbital transfer vehicle, Mira, now features improved radiation hardening, advanced avionics, and a robust power supply. These upgrades enhance its capabilities in GEO and beyond, ensuring precise deployment and hosting upon arrival in orbit. (3/4)
These initiatives will provide reliable, cost-effective, and timely access to GEO, enabling a wide range of new applications from payload hosting to constellation deployment.Stay tuned for more updates! (4/4)
We've announced two key advancements:GEO Rideshare Program: Reducing costs & increasing efficiency by sharing launches to GEO.Upgraded Mira Design: Enhanced maneuverability & efficiency.We're committed to revolutionizing space transportation. Read more below
Impulse Space Announces Availability of New GEO Rideshare Program and Design Upgrade for Mira VehicleThe new GEO Rideshare Program will leverage Impulse’s high-performance kick stage, Helios, to lower the cost of transporting small satellites to orbits beyond LEO; the updated Mira design will be capable of deploying, hosting, and repositioning assets in GEO and other high-energy orbits.August 06, 2024 05:30 PM Eastern Daylight TimeREDONDO BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Impulse Space, a leader in in-space transportation services, announced two new offerings today to provide additional access to and maneuverability within Geostationary Earth Orbit and other high-energy orbits. The first offering is a new GEO Rideshare Program for small satellites, featuring Impulse’s high-performance kick stage, Helios. The second is an updated design for the Mira spacecraft, Impulse’s original orbital transfer vehicle (OTV). This upgrade will enable operations in GEO and other high-energy orbits, providing a reliable, high delta-v vehicle for missions requiring enhanced maneuverability and rapid repositioning.Impulse’s GEO Rideshare Program plans to provide reliable and rapid deployment of small satellites in GEO for a fraction of today’s cost. Operators will no longer have to spend many months orbit-raising to GEO after a GTO drop off, or else purchase a dedicated launch on an expensive, low-supply heavy launcher. The first GEO Rideshare mission is targeted for 2027 on a dedicated launch vehicle. Payload ports start at 300 kg and accommodate both 24-inch rings and 40-by-40-inch four-point separation systems.Exolaunch, a global leader in launch mission management, integration, and satellite deployment services, will support this program through providing rideshare availability and satellite deployment solutions. “Impulse’s introduction of the GEO Rideshare Program marks a transformative milestone for the satellite industry, making cost-effective and timely access to GEO a reality,” said Kier Fortier, vice president of global business development at Exolaunch. “Our collaboration with Impulse is a testament to the strong synergies between our teams and exemplifies our commitment to providing cutting-edge launch and deployment solutions. Having successfully launched nearly 400 satellites across 29 rideshare missions, including a 16U to GEO in 2023, we’re excited to see this innovative solution brought to GEO. This program will revolutionize market dynamics and expand access to high-energy orbits, and we’re proud to support this forward-looking initiative.”The upgraded Mira vehicle is designed to maximize performance from the Impulse GEO Rideshare Program and other launch vehicle offerings. For operators looking to focus solely on their payloads, the upgraded Mira vehicle will provide an ideal option for hosting, capable of integrating as a GEO Rideshare passenger on Helios and then enabling precise deployment or hosting on arrival on orbit.Mira has already proven its reliability and performance following a successful LEO Express-1 mission, which included the deployment of a customer payload in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and a 150 km apogee raise completed in only 75 seconds—an achievement believed to be the largest single maneuver at the time by a nitrous-based propulsion system. The upgraded Mira retains its core capabilities, such as the powerful Saiph thrusters (6 lbf each), the use of storable and nontoxic propellants, a 300 kg payload capacity, six-degree-of-freedom (6DOF) and fine pointing capabilities for unparalleled spacecraft attitude control, and compatibility with a variety of launch providers and payload integrations. The refreshed design also introduces significant enhancements, including radiation hardening, improved avionics, and a more robust power supply. The payload interface supports a variety of integration options, such as multiple small satellite clusters, up to nine 16U CubeSat dispensers, and many custom configurations. The updated Mira vehicle will become the new base model, with customizations available on a case-by-case basis for specific mission needs.These upgrades unlock new applications in GEO, such as payload hosting and constellation deployment. Mira’s high delta-v capability (500 m/s for a 300 kg payload or 1,200 m/s for a 10 kg payload) and 6DOF control provide exceptional versatility for rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) and space situational awareness (SSA). With these advancements, Mira continues to set the standard for OTV performance, offering unparalleled dexterity and a broad range of mission capabilities.“As access to GEO continues opening up, we’re seeing demand shift from static to dynamic operations for assets in these high-energy orbits,” said Impulse Space CEO and founder Tom Mueller. “Mira has demonstrated success with rapid, responsive repositioning thanks to its powerful engines, and we’re confident our updated design will meet the evolving GEO needs of our customers in commercial, scientific, and defense sectors.”Production will leverage the same vertical integration approach that enabled the original Mira to move from a clean-sheet design to successful in-space operations in just 15 months. By maintaining in-house control over vehicle design, manufacturing, and assembly, Impulse can deliver improvements in cost, efficiency, innovation, and reliability for customers.The updated Mira design is set for its first launch in late 2025. Impulse has already attracted interest from several potential customers and partners, including a planned Orbit Fab GEO refueling mission.
Impulse Space announced its selection by SpaceWERX, sponsored by U.S. Space Force (USSF) Space Systems Command’s (SSC) Space Safari Office, for a Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) award with the value of $60M between government funds, matching Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funds, and private funds. The work will focus on the company’s high-performance kick stage, Helios, to address pressing challenges in geosynchronous equatorial orbit (GEO) for the Department of the Air Force (DAF). This award builds on Impulse’s momentum in the government sector, having previously been selected in January for two SBIR Phase II contracts via the 2023 SpaceWERX Tactically Responsive Space Challenge.Capable of taking more than 5 tons from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to GEO in less than a day, Helios will enable responsive delivery capabilities to high-energy orbits like Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), GEO, and cislunar space. Helios is compatible with most medium-lift launch vehicles and can support both primary and rideshare-class payloads. Combined with a commercial launch service, Helios offers an unparalleled combination of rapid and affordable access to destinations beyond LEO. Through the STRATFI award, Helios is intended to support mission areas including space access, mobility, and logistics.SpaceWERX, the innovation arm of the USSF and a unique division within AFWERX, and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) have partnered to streamline the SBIR and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the small business experience through faster proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business and eliminating bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution. With this award, Impulse will continue its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America.“Unlocking responsive missions across all orbits is an important component of building a successful in-space operations program, and we’re proud to be part of that journey for the U.S. government,” said Impulse Space CEO and founder Tom Mueller. “Helios’ ability to open access to high-energy orbits like GEO, with availability when needed or requested, is not only a valuable commercial service but can also help enable a strong national defense posture in space.”Under the SpaceWERX STRATFI award, Impulse will advance the development of Helios through several critical milestones. These include comprehensive stage-level testing, qualification, final assembly, and the launch of its first demonstration flight to deploy a Department of Defense (DoD) payload.
That’s a wrap – another 240-liter composite overwrapped pressure vessel (COPV) meticulously wound with carbon fiber, ready to be cured in our ovens on site. 🔥 COPV tanks are crucial for storing and transporting propellant efficiently. Wrapping them with carbon fiber strengthens the tanks, ensuring they are lightweight yet durable enough to handle the rigors of spaceflight. The wrap pattern, determined by analysis, ensures optimized performance and reliability. Next step for these tanks? Continue testing and validating our design and manufacturing process.
What role do Orbital Transfer Vehicles (OTVs) play in shaping our spacefaring future? 🌌Drew Damon, VP of Spacecraft Programs at Impulse Space, shares how OTVs unlock new capabilities in our latest series, "Impulse Specific," where we explore the cutting-edge technology and engineering driving our missions.
Every Saiph thruster is thoroughly tested before it is integrated onto our vehicles. 📈 We perform several acceptance tests from our in-house vacuum chamber, focusing on two critical operational modes:1️⃣ Steady-state burn: Validates Saiph’s ability to perform delta-V burns, enabling precise orbital transfers.2️⃣ Pulsing burn: Demonstrates fine reaction control with short, rapid pulses, crucial for vehicle rotation in space.Saiph’s success in these tests ensures our vehicles navigate orbits accurately, arriving at our customers’ target destinations in space. 🌌With over 152,000 seconds of burn time and 108,000 ignitions on the ground at Impulse, each run builds confidence in Saiph’s on-orbit performance for our in-space transportation solutions. 🚀
Impulse Space announced today, at the World Space Business Week conference in Paris, France, the signing of a GEO Rideshare agreement with Space Network Services, a French developer of small GEO satellites.Space Network Services’ GEO satellite, called Kaon, is a small and versatile telecommunication satellite designed for government and commercial customers that want to establish sovereign SATCOM systems or increase their capacity over congested areas. Space Network Services plans to launch up to six Kaon satellites at a time through Impulse’s GEO Rideshare Program, delivering savings previously unavailable through any other launch option.“Before, if we wanted to launch four or six satellites direct to GEO at once, our only option was to buy a dedicated launch,” said Yann Le Du, co-founder of Space Network Services. “Through Impulse’s GEO Rideshare Program, we can quickly get to GEO at a fraction of the cost and have the flexibility to launch as many Kaons as we want based on our manifest. It enables us to approach the business in a completely new way.”Impulse’s GEO Rideshare Program plans to provide reliable, rapid, and cost-effective deployment of small satellites in GEO at a regular cadence using its Helios vehicle. Operators will no longer have to spend many months orbit-raising to GEO after a GTO drop-off or purchase a dedicated launch on a low-supply heavy launcher. By avoiding a lengthy transit through GTO, satellite operators can also forgo many subsystems and services, like additional electric propulsion systems, propellant tanks, power processing units, and radiation shielding—as well as expensive operator and ground station costs incurred during the orbit transfer period—generating further savings.“Space Network Services’ Kaon satellite is a great example of the kind of model that can really benefit from GEO Rideshare because it allows them to lower costs and achieve faster time-to-revenue, all while simplifying mission operations,” said Eric Romo, President and COO of Impulse Space. “It’s rewarding to see how they can take advantage of those benefits even at the design stage for Kaon, and we look forward to our continued work together.”“We see this as a safe bet,” says Le Du. “Impulse has a team we trust that has an unbeatable pedigree in the domain. We’re excited for the bright future this partnership holds.”The GEO Rideshare Program plans to begin offering launches in 2027 on a dedicated U.S. launch vehicle. The first flight of Helios is scheduled for Q2 2026.
Los Angeles-based space startup Impulse, which is led by renowned rocket specialist Tom Mueller, has raised $150 million in a new fundraising round led by venture capital firm Founders Fund.
“This means that we’re sufficiently funded through the development of Helios and the upgraded version Mira and out past the first flights of both of these products,” Mueller said.
Mueller noted that the current Impulse facility allows the company to scale to producing at least 10 of its Mira spacecraft a year before it needs to expand.
“This funding is not only a testament to our team's achievements over the past year but also a validation of our vision for the in-space transportation industry,” said Tom Mueller, founder and CEO of Impulse Space. “We’re proud to have so many partners who understand and support the importance of our work to accelerate humanity’s future in space by unlocking reliable, affordable, and efficient access to any orbit.”With this latest funding, Impulse will continue growing its team of more than 140 employees and working to execute against an upcoming roadmap that includes the first mission for the upgraded Mira design in late 2025 and the inaugural launch of Helios in 2026.
