Impulse Space
{{Short description|American space company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Impulse Space
| logo = Impulse_Space_logo.svg
| logo_size =
| type = Private
| foundation = 2021
| founder = Tom Mueller
| hq_location_city = Redondo Beach, California
| hq_location_country = United States
| industry = {{Flatlist|
}}
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.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.{{cite web|last=Finer|first=Iain|publisher=Mach 5 Lowdown|date=June 1, 2020|title=A Look at Tom Mueller's Rocket Projects|url=https://www.mach5lowdown.com/2020/06/01/a-look-at-tom-muellers-rocket-projects-before-spacex/}}
Orbital Transfer Vehicles
Impulse Space designs and manufactures orbital transfer vehicles, sometimes called space tugs, to move satellites and payloads throughout space.
= Mira =
The size of a dishwasher, a Mira orbital transfer vehicle weighs approximately {{cvt|300|kg}} when loaded with propellant. It uses Saiph bipropellant thrusters which have a specific impulse (Isp) of 290 s.{{Cite web |title=Impulse Space Launches Mira Spacecraft, Aiming to Make Solar System Exploration Cheap and Easy |url=https://timnews.com.br/media/news_stories/news/icaro-media-group/impulse-space-launches-mira-spacecraft-aiming-to-make-solar-system-exploration-cheap-and-easy/43790116 |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=TIM News |language=pt}} It can impart a delta-v of from 500 m/s with 300 kg payload to 900 m/s with 100 kg payload.{{Cite web |title=Mira |url=https://www.impulsespace.com/mira |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=www.impulsespace.com }}
In November 2023 the first Mira flight was launched as part the SpaceX Transporter-9 mission.{{Cite web |last=Berger |first=Eric |date=2023-11-13 |title=SpaceX founding employee successfully moves from rockets to in-space propulsion |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/11/impulse-space-appears-to-succeed-with-its-first-spacecraft/ |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}{{Cite web |last=Lentz |first=Danny |date=2023-11-11 |title=SpaceX Transporter 9 rideshare features new OTV from Tom Mueller's Impulse Space |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2023/11/transporter-9/ |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=NASASpaceFlight.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=LEO Express 1, 2, 3 (Mira 1, 2, 3) |url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/mira-leo-express.htm |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=Gunter's Space Page |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Volosín |first=Juan I. Morales |date=2023-11-06 |title=Transporter-9 {{!}} Falcon 9 Block 5 |url=https://everydayastronaut.com/transporter-9-falcon-9/ |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=Everyday Astronaut |language=en-US}}
Orbit Fab, in a mission funded by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), has contracted Impulse on a GEO in-space refueling mission using Mira.{{Cite web |last=Urban |first=Ria |date=May 26, 2023 |title=Orbit Fab Selects Impulse Space to Support GEO Refueling Mission |url=https://spaceimpulse.com/2023/05/26/orbit-fab-selects-impulse-space-to-support-geo-refueling-mission/ |website=Space Impulse}}
= Helios =
On January 17, 2024, Impulse announced their new high-energy kick stage, Helios.{{Cite web |last=Alamalhodaei |first=Aria |date=2024-01-17 |title=Impulse Space wants to open up far away orbits with Helios kick stage |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/01/17/impulse-space-wants-to-open-up-far-away-orbits-with-helios-kick-stage/ |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Berger |first=Eric |date=2024-01-17 |title=Meet Helios, a new class of space tug with some real muscle |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/01/meet-helios-a-new-class-of-space-tug-with-some-real-muscle/ |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=2024-01-17 |title=Impulse Space announces plan to develop high-energy kick stage |url=https://spacenews.com/impulse-space-announces-plan-to-develop-high-energy-kick-stage/ |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}} A Deneb engine providing {{cvt|67|kN}} of thrust will burn up to {{cvt|14000|kg}} of liquid oxygen and liquid methane propellant.{{cite web | url=https://news.satnews.com/2024/01/18/impulse-space-unveils-the-design-specs-for-their-new-kick-stage-helios-engine/ | title=Impulse Space unveils the design specs for their new kick stage Helios engine |publisher=SatNews}} On September 16, 2024, Impulse indicated the first flight of Helios was scheduled for 2026.{{Cite web |title=Impulse Signs GEO Rideshare Agreement with French Company, Space Network Services, at WSBW Paris |url=https://www.impulsespace.com/updates/impulse-signs-geo-rideshare-agreement-with-french-company-space-network-services-at-wsbw-paris |date=2024-09-16}}
In May 2025, Impulse signed a multi-launch agreement with communications satellite operator, SES to use Helios to lift four-ton SES satellites launched to LEO into geostationary orbit, with the first mission in 2027.[https://spacenews.com/impulse-space-to-launch-ses-satellites/ Impulse Space to launch SES satellites] SpaceNews 23 May 2025. Accessed 1 June 2025
= Mars Lander =
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.{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=2022-07-20 |title=Impulse and Relativity announce proposal for joint Mars landing mission |url=https://spacenews.com/impulse-and-relativity-announce-proposal-for-joint-mars-landing-mission/ |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}} The mission has since moved to a 2026 launch date.{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=2023-05-24 |title=Impulse and Relativity target 2026 for launch of first Mars lander mission |url=https://spacenews.com/impulse-and-relativity-target-2026-for-launch-of-first-mars-lander-mission/ |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}
Rocket engines
Since the founding of Impulse in 2021, the company has developed several rocket engines — Saiph, Rigel, and Deneb — for use in spacecraft.
= Saiph =
On May 10, 2023, an Impulse Space press release announced the successful qualification of their 5 lbf (22 N) Saiph thruster.{{Cite news|date=May 10, 2023|publisher=SatNews|title=Impulse Space's Saiph Thruster is now space qualified|url=https://news.satnews.com/2023/05/10/impulse-spaces-saiph-thruster-is-now-space-qualified/}} 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.
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.{{Cite web |title=Mission Updates: LEO Express-1 |url=https://www.impulsespace.com/updates/leo-express-1 |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=Impulse Space |language=en}}
Vast, a privately funded commercial space station company, procured Impulse's Saiph thrusters and propulsion hardware for its Haven-1 mission.{{Cite web |title=Vast Selects Impulse Space's Thruster For Its Space Station {{!}} Aviation Week Network |url=https://aviationweek.com/aerospace/commercial-space/vast-selects-impulse-spaces-thruster-its-space-station |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=aviationweek.com}}{{Cite web |last=Kuhr |first=Jack |date=2023-06-16 |title=Vast Partners with Impulse for Haven-1 LEO Station Propulsion |url=https://payloadspace.com/vast-partners-with-impulse-for-haven-1-leo-station-propulsion/ |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=Payload |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Welk |first=Hannah Madans |date=2023-06-26 |title=Vast, Impulse to Partner on Space Station |url=https://labusinessjournal.com/manufacturing/vast-impulse-to-partner-on-space-station/ |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=Los Angeles Business Journal |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2023-06-15 |title=VAST Selects Impulse Space for Haven-1 Space Station Propulsion |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/vast-selects-impulse-space-haven-170100982.html |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=Yahoo Finance |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Sorenson |first=Aaron |date=2023-05-11 |title=Vast Aims to Launch World's First Commercial Space Station by 2025 |url=https://payloadspace.com/vast-aims-to-launch-worlds-first-commercial-space-station-by-2025/ |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=Payload |language=en-US}}
= Rigel =
Rigel was the company's first rocket engine,{{clarify|thrust? propellants? designed for?|date=November 2024}} 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.{{cite news |last=Alamalhodaei |first=Aria |date=July 26, 2022 |title=SpaceX's CTO of propulsion retired. Now he wants to go to Mars. |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/07/26/spacexs-cto-of-propulsion-retired-now-he-wants-to-go-to-mars/ |publisher=TechCrunch}}
= Deneb =
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.{{Cite web |date=January 18, 2024 |title=Impulse Space unveils design specifications for Helios |url=https://spacewatch.global/2024/01/impulse-space-unveils-design-specifications-for-helios/ |website=Spacewatch}}{{Cite web |title=Impulse Space |url=https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=54798.80 |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=forum.nasaspaceflight.com}}{{update after|2024|11|15}}
Corporate affairs
= Investors =
Impulse Space investors include Founders Fund, Lux Capital, Airbus Ventures, Space Capital, RTX Ventures and Venture Capitalist Dovi Frances.{{cite news|first=Jeff|last=Foust|title=Impulse Space raises an additional $10 million for orbital transfer vehicles|date=June 17, 2022|publisher=SpaceNews|url=https://spacenews.com/impulse-space-raises-an-additional-10-million-for-orbital-transfer-vehicles/}}{{cite news|first=Sandra|last=Erwin|publisher=SpaceNews|date=July 24, 2023|title=Startup Impulse Space raises $45 million in Series A round|url=https://spacenews.com/startup-impulse-space-raises-45-million-in-series-a-round/}}{{Cite web |last=Alamalhodaei |first=Aria |date=2023-07-24 |title=Impulse Space is flying high with new funding led by RTX Ventures |url=https://techcrunch.com/2023/07/24/impulse-space-is-flying-high-with-new-funding-led-by-rtx-ventures/ |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}
= Board of Directors =
Facilities
Impulse Space operates from three American locations. Its corporate headquarters operate from a 60,000-square-foot facility in Redondo Beach, California.{{Cite web |last=Kozlowski |first=Denise |date=2023-04-10 |title=Impulse Relocates to Redondo Beach |url=https://labusinessjournal.com/retail/impulse-relocates-to-redondo-beach/ |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=Los Angeles Business Journal |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Impulse Space To Ramp Up Vertical Integration At New Facility {{!}} Aviation Week Network |url=https://aviationweek.com/aerospace/commercial-space/impulse-space-ramp-vertical-integration-new-facility |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=aviationweek.com}} In February 2023, the company opened an office in Boulder, Colorado. Rocket engine tests are conducted at the Mojave Air and Space Port.{{cite news |last=Gatlin |first=Allison |date=February 24, 2023 |title=Impulse Space Company expands Mojave presence |url=https://www.avpress.com/news/impulse-space-company-expands-mojave-presence/article_d2f72264-b3f2-11ed-a0aa-3feae79ff787.html |access-date=June 23, 2023 |publisher=Antelope Valley Press}}{{Cite web |title=About Mojave Air & Space |url=https://www.mojaveairport.com/about-mojave-air--space.html |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=MOJAVE AIR & SPACE PORT |language=en}}