Impulse Space says its space tugs will provide fast transportation for satellites by using high-thrust chemical propulsion.
Impulse Space plans to launch its first space tug mission, LEO Express-1, in the fourth quarter of 2023.
The El Segundo, California-based startup said on Jan. 4 that its Mira orbital service vehicle will perform in-space services, including last-mile orbital payload delivery, payload hosting, very low altitude maneuvers and controlled atmospheric re-entry during the initial mission. The company has bought a slot on a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle as part of the Transporter-9 rideshare mission.
The primary payload for the LEO Express-1 mission was not disclosed by Impulse Space, which says it is seeking secondary customers to fill remaining payload space.
After a launch vehicle deploys the company’s Mira spacecraft on orbit, the space tug carries its small satellite payloads onto their target orbits.
“Currently, small [satellite] operators with custom orbit requirements need to pay a premium or compromise their spacecraft designs to include additional onboard propulsion capability,” says Tom Mueller, Impulse Space founder and chief executive officer. “Impulse’s LEO Express missions will provide the industry with a reliable, rapid and consistent service for precisely delivering payloads to custom orbits in low Earth orbit.”
Impulse Space says its Mira will be able to provide fast transportation for satellites by using high-thrust chemical propulsion.
Mueller was formerly a SpaceX engineer who led development of the Merlin rocket engine. Barry Matsumori, Impulse Space’s chief operating officer, was formerly SpaceX’s senior vice president of sales and business development.
In July, Impulse Space and Relativity Space announced a plan to launch a commercial Mars lander mission in 2024.
Related Content
