Impulse Space Introduces GEO Rideshare Program and Upgraded Mira Spacecraft

Written by Copernical Team Thursday, 08 August 2024 20:42

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

Write a comment

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Aug 08, 2024

Impulse Space, a leader in in-space transportation services, has unveiled two new offerings designed to enhance access to and maneuverability within Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) and other high-energy orbits. The new initiatives include a GEO Rideshare Program for small satellites, featuring Impulse's high-performance kick stage, Helios, and an upgraded design for the Mira spacecraft, their or

Impulse Space Introduces GEO Rideshare Program and Upgraded Mira Spacecraft
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Aug 08, 2024

Impulse Space, a leader in in-space transportation services, has unveiled two new offerings designed to enhance access to and maneuverability within Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) and other high-energy orbits. The new initiatives include a GEO Rideshare Program for small satellites, featuring Impulse's high-performance kick stage, Helios, and an upgraded design for the Mira spacecraft, their original orbital transfer vehicle (OTV).

The GEO Rideshare Program aims to provide cost-effective and rapid deployment of small satellites in GEO. This service will eliminate the long wait times associated with orbit-raising to GEO after a Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) drop-off and reduce the need for expensive, low-supply heavy launchers. The first mission is scheduled for 2027 using a dedicated launch vehicle. Payload ports start at 300 kg and are compatible with both 24-inch rings and 40-by-40-inch four-point separation systems.

Exolaunch, a global leader in launch mission management, integration, and satellite deployment services, will support this program by offering rideshare availability and satellite deployment solutions. "Impulse's introduction of the GEO Rideshare Program marks a transformative milestone for the satellite industry, making cost-effective and timely access to GEO a reality," said Kier Fortier, vice president of global business development at Exolaunch. "Our collaboration with Impulse is a testament to the strong synergies between our teams and exemplifies our commitment to providing cutting-edge launch and deployment solutions. Having successfully launched nearly 400 satellites across 29 rideshare missions, including a 16U to GEO in 2023, we're excited to see this innovative solution brought to GEO. This program will revolutionize market dynamics and expand access to high-energy orbits, and we're proud to support this forward-looking initiative."

The upgraded Mira spacecraft is engineered to maximize performance from the GEO Rideshare Program and other launch offerings. For operators focusing solely on their payloads, the enhanced Mira vehicle provides an ideal solution for hosting, integrating as a GEO Rideshare passenger on Helios, and enabling precise deployment or hosting upon arrival in orbit.

Mira's reliability and performance were proven during the successful LEO Express-1 mission, which involved deploying a customer payload in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and achieving a 150 km apogee raise in just 75 seconds-a notable achievement for a nitrous-based propulsion system. The upgraded Mira retains its core capabilities, such as the powerful Saiph thrusters (6 lbf each), the use of storable and non-toxic propellants, a 300 kg payload capacity, six-degree-of-freedom (6DOF) and fine pointing capabilities for precise spacecraft attitude control, and compatibility with various launch providers and payload integrations. Enhancements include radiation hardening, improved avionics, and a more robust power supply. The payload interface supports various integration options, including multiple small satellite clusters, up to nine 16U CubeSat dispensers, and many custom configurations. The updated Mira vehicle will serve as the new base model, with customizations available based on specific mission needs.

These upgrades enable new applications in GEO, such as payload hosting and constellation deployment. Mira's high delta-v capability (500 m/s for a 300 kg payload or 1,200 m/s for a 10 kg payload) and 6DOF control offer exceptional versatility for rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) and space situational awareness (SSA). With these advancements, Mira continues to set the standard for OTV performance, offering unparalleled dexterity and a wide range of mission capabilities.

"As access to GEO continues opening up, we're seeing demand shift from static to dynamic operations for assets in these high-energy orbits," said Impulse Space CEO and founder Tom Mueller. "Mira has demonstrated success with rapid, responsive repositioning thanks to its powerful engines, and we're confident our updated design will meet the evolving GEO needs of our customers in commercial, scientific, and defense sectors."

The production of the updated Mira design will utilize the same vertical integration approach that enabled the original Mira to progress from a clean-sheet design to successful in-space operations in just 15 months. By maintaining in-house control over vehicle design, manufacturing, and assembly, Impulse can deliver improvements in cost, efficiency, innovation, and reliability for customers.

The upgraded Mira design is slated for its first launch in late 2025. Impulse has already garnered interest from several potential customers and partners, including a planned Orbit Fab GEO refueling mission.