Impulse Space has signed a contract with SpaceX for three Falcon 9 launches, beginning in 2026, to deploy its Helios transfer vehicle. The company, which announced the deal on Nov. 14, aims to showcase Helios' ability to quickly and efficiently transport payloads between orbits, including for the U.S. Space Force.
MIRA is the ImpulseSpace’s flight-proven orbital transfer and hosting vehicle for LEO, MEO, GEO, and Cislunar missions. Credit: Impulse Space
Mission Details
The first launch, slated for mid-2026, will mark the debut of the Helios transfer vehicle. Helios will carry Impulse Space’s smaller Mira vehicle, equipped with a commercial optical payload, from low Earth orbit to geostationary transfer orbit. This mission, part of the Space Force’s Victus Surgo initiative in collaboration with the Defense Innovation Unit, highlights Helios' potential for national security applications. Impulse Space secured a $34.5 million contract on Oct. 3 for Victus Surgo and another mission, Victus Salo.
The timeline and payloads for the subsequent two Helios launches are yet to be determined.
“Securing these launches allows us to showcase the full potential of Helios,” said Eric Romo, president and COO of Impulse Space, in a company statement. “Delivering spacecraft to high-energy orbits rapidly and economically changes the equation for commercial communication operators and national security missions like Victus Surgo.”
Powered by the Deneb engine, which uses liquid oxygen and liquid methane, Helios is engineered for high performance and cost-efficiency. Deneb produces 15,000 pounds of thrust and is touted as one of the most advanced engines in its class. Impulse Space unveiled a developmental version of Deneb on Nov. 14 and announced that testing would commence soon.
Launch Operations and Funding
The inaugural Helios launch will take place from Florida’s Launch Complex 39A. SpaceX’s infrastructure supports on-pad fueling of liquid oxygen and methane, as demonstrated during the IM-1 lunar lander mission earlier this year.
The ambitious Helios program is supported by a $150 million Series B funding round announced by Impulse Space on Oct. 1. These funds will advance the development of Helios and its companion Mira vehicle, ensuring Impulse Space remains a key player in orbital transportation.
By leveraging the versatility of Helios and SpaceX’s reliable Falcon 9, Impulse Space is poised to transform access to high-energy orbits for both commercial and government customers.
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