Impulse Space

Impulse Space operates orbital transfer vehicles designed to deliver payloads from common deployment points to low Earth orbit, medium Earth orbit, geostationary orbit, and deep-space destinations. The company manufactures the Mira orbital transfer vehicle for LEO operations and precise proximity operations, and the Helios kick stage for transporting multi-ton payloads to GEO, lunar, and interplanetary trajectories in under 24 hours. Both platforms employ the company's Saiph thrusters, which burn ethane and nitrous oxide—storable, non-toxic propellants ignited by spark plugs rather than hypergolic catalysts. Impulse Space operates from Redondo Beach, California, and demonstrates flight heritage through multiple LEO Express rideshare missions launched via SpaceX Transporter services since November 2023.

The company operates the Caravan scheduled delivery program for geostationary orbit missions and provides hosted payload services including power and thermal management. Impulse Space holds contracts from the U.S. Space Force for the VICTUS SURGO and VICTUS SALO tactically responsive space demonstrations scheduled for 2026, and collaborates with Relativity Space on a commercial Mars lander mission. Current development efforts include radiation-hardened Mira variants for MEO and GEO operations and the Rigel engine, a high-thrust propulsion system for next-generation Helios vehicles. Founded in 2021 by Tom Mueller, former propulsion lead at SpaceX, Impulse Space is privately held.