Impulse Space

Overview Impulse Space is a U.S. in‑space transportation company that designs, builds, and operates vehicles to move payloads rapidly between orbits. Founded in 2021 and headquartered in Redondo Beach, California, the company provides end‑to‑end mobility services—payload deployment, hosted operations, and high‑energy transfers—from low Earth orbit (LEO) to medium Earth orbit (MEO), geostationary orbit (GEO), cislunar space, and interplanetary trajectories. Vehicles and Propulsion • Mira (orbital service vehicle / OTV): A maneuverable, flight‑proven spacecraft for rideshare drop‑offs, hosted payloads, inspection/situational‑awareness sensors, and precision orbit changes. Mira uses a non‑toxic, storable bipropellant propulsion system and is optimized for rapid, high‑thrust maneuvers and long‑duration missions. • Helios (high‑energy kick stage): A launcher‑agnostic stage designed to deliver large payloads from LEO to higher‑energy destinations (MEO, GEO, cislunar). Helios employs a high‑performance LOX/methane engine and is planned to debut in the second half of the decade. • Saiph thruster family: In‑house storable chemical thrusters that run on ethane and nitrous oxide, qualified for long‑duration operation and rapid restarts for precise maneuvering. Missions and Milestones • LEO Express‑1 (Mira): Launched November 11, 2023 on SpaceX’s Transporter‑9 from Vandenberg. Over four months on orbit, Mira completed primary objectives including payload deployments, collision‑avoidance demonstrations, and a 75‑second burn that raised apogee by ~150 km, followed by a controlled end‑of‑mission. • LEO Express‑2 (Mira): Launched January 14, 2025 on Transporter‑12. The mission features upgraded avionics and communications, high‑thrust maneuver demos, and multi‑month hosted payload operations. Early milestones included successful CubeSat deployments and first‑light imagery from an onboard optical payload. • Roadmap: Additional Mira flights (including LEO Express‑3) and the first Helios mission are planned to expand services to higher‑energy orbits. Programs and Customers (selected) • U.S. government: Awards and selections include NASA launch services (VADR) and Space Development Agency HALO participation; work with Space Systems Command supports tactically responsive space objectives. • NASA OTV studies: Selected to study orbital‑transfer services that provide lower‑cost access to hard‑to‑reach destinations. • Commercial: Missions for satellite operators and sensing companies using Mira for rideshare “last‑mile” delivery and hosted payload operations; propulsion hardware supplied to commercial programs. Facilities and Footprint Impulse Space’s headquarters and main integration facility are in Redondo Beach, California, with additional test and program operations supporting propulsion and vehicle development. Financing The company announced a $150 million Series B round in 2024 to scale Mira flights, advance Helios, and expand production capacity. Positioning and Strategy Impulse Space focuses on fast, flexible in‑space logistics. Near‑term priorities include sustaining a regular Mira flight cadence with payload deployment and hosting services, fielding higher‑energy missions, and maturing Helios to deliver same‑day transfers from LEO to destinations such as GEO and cislunar space.