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Impulse Space

All articles tagged with #impulse space

technology2 days ago•5 min saved

Impulse Space Joins US Military Launch Race with Helios Kick-Stage

US Space Force expands Phase 3 to add Impulse Space and Relativity Space to Lane 1, bringing newer entrants into high-energy GEO-capable launches. Impulse Space, though focused on in-space propulsion, plans to use its Helios kick-stage to boost payloads up to 9 km/s delta‑V and integrate with boosters from Falcon 9, ULA, Rocket Lab, Relativity Space, and more; it must demonstrate Helios in flight before it can win task orders, with launches expected 18–24 months after award. The company shipped a Helios run tank for testing and reports good Deneb engine progress, aiming for a 2027 debut on Falcon 9. Lane 1 exists to diversify competition, while Lane 2 covers established providers like SpaceX and ULA.

via Ars Technica|

#defense #impulse-space #launch

military3 days ago•13 min saved

Space Force broadens security-launch roster with Relativity Space and Impulse Space

The U.S. Space Force added Relativity Space and Impulse Space to the National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 1 pool, expanding pre-qualified options for lower-risk national-security missions; Relativity Space’s Terran R is a mid-lift candidate, while Impulse Space provides orbital transfer vehicles and the Helios upper stage to complement a partner launcher, signaling a shift to integrated transport services and greater commercial competition; Lane 2 remains for the military’s most demanding, fully certified missions.

via SpaceNews|

#impulse-space #military #nssl

money1 month ago•204 min saved

Mueller's Impulse Space Aims to Taxi the Cosmos

Tom Mueller—SpaceX’s former propulsion chief—founded Impulse Space to build in-space taxis that move satellites and cargo between orbits, with Mira and Helios vehicles designed to cut orbital transfers from months to about a day using in-house methane/oxygen propulsion. Impulse has raised roughly $1B and is valued around $4.3B as U.S. Space Force and NASA funding push a growing space economy; Helios aims for 4-ton payloads with first flight in 2027, while Mira has logged successful deployments despite a recent hiccup. The piece underscores both the promise of faster orbital logistics and the risk of competition from SpaceX as the fiscal and industrial scaffolding for a space economy expands.

via Forbes|

#impulse-space #in-space-mobility #money

technology1 month ago•4 min saved

Impulse Space secures $500 million to scale in-space mobility fleet

Impulse Space raised $500 million in a Series D led by 137 Ventures and BANNER VC to dramatically scale production of its Mira maneuverable spacecraft and Helios kick stage, addressing growing demand from civil, commercial, and national-security customers. With total funding now exceeding $1 billion, the company plans Caravan rideshare missions to GEO beginning in 2027, eyes a NASA CLPS 2.0 opportunity for a ~3-ton lunar lander, and intends to accelerate hiring (to about 500 employees) without enlarging facilities in the near term. No IPO plans are indicated.

via SpaceNews|

#helios #impulse-space #mira

space6 months ago•3 min saved

Starfish and Impulse Achieve Successful Autonomous Satellite Rendezvous on Remora Mission

Two private spacecraft successfully performed an autonomous rendezvous in orbit during the Remora mission, demonstrating advanced proximity operations technology that could enable future satellite servicing and repair missions, developed by Impulse Space and Starfish Space in just nine months.

via Space|

#autonomous-rendezvous #impulse-space #private-spacecraft

technology6 months ago•4 min saved

Starfish and Impulse Space Achieve Successful Autonomous Satellite Rendezvous

Starfish Space and Impulse Space successfully demonstrated autonomous spacecraft proximity operations using only a single camera for navigation during the Remora mission, achieving a close approach of about 1,250 meters between two Mira spacecraft, showcasing a simpler and potentially more cost-effective method for spacecraft rendezvous and proximity activities.

via SpaceNews|

#autonomous-proximity-operations #impulse-space #single-camera-navigation

space8 months ago•4 min saved

Impulse Space unveils plans for lunar deliveries and lander development

Impulse Space, founded by former SpaceX employee Tom Mueller, plans to develop a robotic lunar lander with a potential first mission as early as 2028, aiming to deliver up to 3 tons of payload to the moon using its Helios kick stage and in-house built lander, expanding private lunar exploration efforts.

via Space|

#2028-launch #impulse-space #lunar-lander

space9 months ago•3 min saved

Impulse Space unveils plans for lunar deliveries and moon lander

Impulse Space plans to develop a lunar lander capable of delivering three metric tons of cargo to the moon starting in 2028, aiming to fill a gap in mid-sized payload delivery for lunar infrastructure development, using their Helios transfer vehicle and existing propulsion technology.

via SpaceNews|

#cargo-delivery #impulse-space #lunar-lander

defense-and-space-technology9 months ago•4 min saved

Impulse Space and Anduril Advance Autonomous Satellite Technologies for Rapid Space Operations

The US is advancing its space capabilities through a collaboration between Anduril and Impulse Space to develop a demonstration satellite for rapid rendezvous and proximity operations, utilizing innovative propulsion and imaging technologies to enhance military and commercial satellite operations, with plans for a significant mission in late 2026.

via Rude Baguette|

#anduril-industries #commercial-space-technology #defense-and-space-technology

space-technology2 years ago•3 min saved

From Rockets to Propulsion: SpaceX Employee's Successful Transition in Space

Impulse Space, a company founded by former SpaceX employee Tom Mueller, successfully launched its first spacecraft, the Mira, on a test flight during a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket mission. The Mira spacecraft is designed to provide in-space propulsion, allowing satellites to reach different altitudes or inclinations after being released into a basic orbit. Impulse Space aims to make it cheap and easy for customers to access various orbits and destinations within the Solar System. The company has already secured customers and plans to fly the Mira spacecraft on future SpaceX missions.

via Ars Technica|

#impulse-space #in-space-propulsion #mira-spacecraft

spaceflight2 years ago•8 min saved

"Exclusive Interview with Impulse Space CEO Tom Mueller: From SpaceX's Early Days to Moon Bases and the Thriving Space Industry"

Tom Mueller, the founder and CEO of Impulse Space and former SpaceX employee, reflects on the early days of SpaceX and his work on the Merlin rocket engine. He discusses Impulse Space's goals of providing precise orbital maneuvering vehicles for last-mile payload delivery in low Earth orbit (LEO) and facilitating better orbital logistics for clients. Mueller also shares his thoughts on the future of the space industry, including the rush for a lunar economy and the potential of building things in space using resources from the moon. Impulse Space's first orbital mission is scheduled for November 2021.

via Space.com|

#impulse-space #orbital-logistics #rocket-propulsion

space3 years ago•1 min saved

2026 Mars Landing Targeted by Private Space Company.

Relativity Space and Impulse Space are planning to become the first commercial venture to land on Mars and launch regular missions to create a "constant supply chain to Mars." They aim to send at least one mission for every launch window, which opens up every 26 months. The companies hope to make transport to Mars more affordable and open up new possibilities for space exploration.

via Gizmodo|

#commercial-space-venture #impulse-space #mars

space3 years ago•3 min saved

Impulse and Relativity aim for 2026 Mars lander launch.

Impulse Space and Relativity Space are targeting a 2026 launch for the first commercial robotic Mars lander mission, with plans for a regular series of such missions every 2.2 years. The companies aim to offer a catalog of different payload options and leverage designs and technologies developed for NASA’s InSight Mars lander. NASA is seen as one potential customer of those landers, and the companies want to demonstrate that there are companies both interested in and able to take on Mars missions.

via SpaceNews|

#commercial-space #impulse-space #mars