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Impulse Space

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Impulse Space
Company typePrivate
Industry
Founded2021
FounderTom Mueller
Headquarters
Redondo Beach, California
,
United States
Websitewww.impulsespace.com

Impulse Space is a startup founded in 2021 developing in-space transportation technology and services for satellites that fly to Low Earth Orbit but then need to reach other orbits.

The company was founded by Tom Mueller, employee No.1 at SpaceX and principal engineer of the Merlin and Draco rocket engines that power the Falcon 9 and Dragon spacecraft.[1]

Orbital Transfer Vehicles

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Impulse Space designs and manufactures orbital transfer vehicles,[2] sometimes called space tugs, to move satellites and payloads throughout space.

Mira

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Mira spacecraft in orbit. Image captured by onboard cameras.

The size of a dishwasher, a Mira orbital transfer vehicle weighs approximately 300 kg (660 lb) when loaded with propellant.[3] It uses Saiph bipropellant thrusters which have a specific impulse (Isp) of 290 s.[3][4] It can impart a delta-v of from 500 m/s with 300 kg payload to 900 m/s with 100 kg payload.[5]

In November 2023 the first Mira flight was launched as part the SpaceX Transporter-9 mission.[3][6][7][8]

Orbit Fab, in a mission funded by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), has contracted Impulse on a GEO in-space refueling mission using Mira.[9]

Helios

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On January 17, 2024, Impulse announced their new high-energy kick stage, Helios.[10] It is intended to propel up to 4 tons launched on a Falcon 9 and 5 tons on Relativity's Terran R vehicle from LEO directly into geostationary orbit. With a diameter of just under 3.5 meters, Helios is sized to fit within a Falcon 9 fairing.[11][12] A Deneb engine providing 67 kN (15,000 lbf) of thrust will burn up to 14,000 kg (31,000 lb) of liquid oxygen and liquid methane propellant.[13] On September 16, 2024, Impulse indicated the first flight of Helios was scheduled for 2026.[14]

Mars Lander

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In July 2022, Impulse Space announced a joint mission with Relativity Space to land on Mars. Impulse is responsible for building the lander itself, the cruise stage and the entry capsule. Relativity would launch the spacecraft on its Terran R, which is currently under development.[15] The mission has since moved to a 2026 launch date.[16]

Rocket engines

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Since the founding of Impulse in 2021, the company has developed several rocket engines — Saiph, Rigel, and Deneb — for use in spacecraft.

Saiph thruster during the 17-day qualification test campaign.

Saiph

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On May 10, 2023, an Impulse Space press release announced the successful qualification of their 5 lbf (22 N) Saiph thruster.[17] Using the propellants of nitrous oxide and ethane, the thruster achieved a burn duration of 12 continuous minutes and 50,000 pulses over the 17 day qualification period. Saiph thruster uses spark ignition.[6]

The company incorporated eight Saiph thrusters into their Mira spacecraft, which launched to space September 2023 on the SpaceX Transporter-9 mission. The company announced their successful firings of all eight thrusters in a November 2023 mission update.[18]

Vast, a privately funded commercial space station company, procured Impulse's Saiph thrusters and propulsion hardware for its Haven-1 mission.[19][20][21][22] In May 2023, Vast unveiled its Haven-1 station and announced that SpaceX would launch the spacecraft and provide taxi services to the future habitat.[23]

Rigel

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Rigel was the company's first rocket engine,[clarification needed] designed for use on Impulse's Mars Lander vehicle. The engine has undergone extensive testing from the company's Mojave Air and Space Port facilities.[24]

Deneb

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Deneb is a 15,000 lbf (67 kN) staged combustion cycle engine that uses liquid oxygen (LOX) and methane as propellants. It is being developed as the main engine of Impulse's Helios vehicle and would burn 14,000 kg of propellant across each mission.[25][26][needs update]

Corporate affairs

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Investors

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Impulse Space investors include Founders Fund, Lux Capital, Airbus Ventures, Space Capital and RTX Ventures.[2][27][28]

Board of Directors

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Joined board Name Background
2021 Tom Mueller Impulse CEO and Founder.
2024[29][30] General John W. Raymond Chief of Space Operations for the United States Space Force from 2019 to 2022

Facilities

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Impulse Space operates from three American locations. Its corporate headquarters operate from a 60,000-square-foot facility in Redondo Beach, California.[31][32] In February 2023, the company opened an office in Boulder, Colorado. Rocket engine tests are conducted at the Mojave Air and Space Port.[33][34]

References

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  1. ^ Finer, Iain (June 1, 2020). "A Look at Tom Mueller's Rocket Projects". Mach 5 Lowdown.
  2. ^ a b Foust, Jeff (June 17, 2022). "Impulse Space raises an additional $10 million for orbital transfer vehicles". SpaceNews.
  3. ^ a b c Berger, Eric (2023-11-13). "SpaceX founding employee successfully moves from rockets to in-space propulsion". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  4. ^ "Impulse Space Launches Mira Spacecraft, Aiming to Make Solar System Exploration Cheap and Easy". TIM News (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  5. ^ "Mira". www.impulsespace.com. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
  6. ^ a b Lentz, Danny (2023-11-11). "SpaceX Transporter 9 rideshare features new OTV from Tom Mueller's Impulse Space". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  7. ^ "LEO Express 1, 2, 3 (Mira 1, 2, 3)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  8. ^ Volosín, Juan I. Morales (2023-11-06). "Transporter-9 | Falcon 9 Block 5". Everyday Astronaut. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  9. ^ Urban, Ria (May 26, 2023). "Orbit Fab Selects Impulse Space to Support GEO Refueling Mission". Space Impulse.
  10. ^ Alamalhodaei, Aria (2024-01-17). "Impulse Space wants to open up far away orbits with Helios kick stage". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  11. ^ Berger, Eric (2024-01-17). "Meet Helios, a new class of space tug with some real muscle". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  12. ^ Foust, Jeff (2024-01-17). "Impulse Space announces plan to develop high-energy kick stage". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  13. ^ "Impulse Space unveils the design specs for their new kick stage Helios engine". SatNews.
  14. ^ "Impulse Signs GEO Rideshare Agreement with French Company, Space Network Services, at WSBW Paris". 2024-09-16.
  15. ^ Foust, Jeff (2022-07-20). "Impulse and Relativity announce proposal for joint Mars landing mission". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  16. ^ Foust, Jeff (2023-05-24). "Impulse and Relativity target 2026 for launch of first Mars lander mission". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  17. ^ "Impulse Space's Saiph Thruster is now space qualified". SatNews. May 10, 2023.
  18. ^ "Mission Updates: LEO Express-1". Impulse Space. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  19. ^ "Vast Selects Impulse Space's Thruster For Its Space Station | Aviation Week Network". aviationweek.com. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  20. ^ Kuhr, Jack (2023-06-16). "Vast Partners with Impulse for Haven-1 LEO Station Propulsion". Payload. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  21. ^ Welk, Hannah Madans (2023-06-26). "Vast, Impulse to Partner on Space Station". Los Angeles Business Journal. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  22. ^ "VAST Selects Impulse Space for Haven-1 Space Station Propulsion". Yahoo Finance. 2023-06-15. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  23. ^ Sorenson, Aaron (2023-05-11). "Vast Aims to Launch World's First Commercial Space Station by 2025". Payload. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  24. ^ Alamalhodaei, Aria (July 26, 2022). "SpaceX's CTO of propulsion retired. Now he wants to go to Mars". TechCrunch.
  25. ^ "Impulse Space unveils design specifications for Helios". Spacewatch. January 18, 2024.
  26. ^ "Impulse Space". forum.nasaspaceflight.com. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  27. ^ Erwin, Sandra (July 24, 2023). "Startup Impulse Space raises $45 million in Series A round". SpaceNews.
  28. ^ Alamalhodaei, Aria (2023-07-24). "Impulse Space is flying high with new funding led by RTX Ventures". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  29. ^ Erwin, Sandra (2024-02-21). "Former U.S. Space Force chief Jay Raymond joins board of directors of Impulse Space". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  30. ^ Albon, Courtney (2024-02-21). "Former Space Force chief joins Impulse Space board of directors". C4ISRNet. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  31. ^ Kozlowski, Denise (2023-04-10). "Impulse Relocates to Redondo Beach". Los Angeles Business Journal. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  32. ^ "Impulse Space To Ramp Up Vertical Integration At New Facility | Aviation Week Network". aviationweek.com. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  33. ^ Gatlin, Allison (February 24, 2023). "Impulse Space Company expands Mojave presence". Antelope Valley Press. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  34. ^ "About Mojave Air & Space". MOJAVE AIR & SPACE PORT. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
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