With the ability to take payloads of over 5 tons directly from LEO to GEO in less than 24 hours, Helios can enable responsive deliveries to high-energy orbits.

Impulse Space announced its selection by SpaceWERX, sponsored by U.S. Space Force (USSF) Space Systems Command’s (SSC) Space Safari Office, for a Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) award with the value of $60M between government funds, matching Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funds, and private funds. The work will focus on the company’s high-performance kick stage, Helios, to address pressing challenges in geosynchronous equatorial orbit (GEO) for the Department of the Air Force (DAF). This award builds on Impulse’s momentum in the government sector, having previously been selected in January for two SBIR Phase II contracts via the 2023 SpaceWERX Tactically Responsive Space Challenge.

Capable of taking more than 5 tons from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to GEO in less than a day, Helios will enable responsive delivery capabilities to high-energy orbits like Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), GEO, and cislunar space. Helios is compatible with most medium-lift launch vehicles and can support both primary and rideshare-class payloads. Combined with a commercial launch service, Helios offers an unparalleled combination of rapid and affordable access to destinations beyond LEO. Through the STRATFI award, Helios is intended to support mission areas including space access, mobility, and logistics.

SpaceWERX, the innovation arm of the USSF and a unique division within AFWERX, and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) have partnered to streamline the SBIR and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the small business experience through faster proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business and eliminating bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution. With this award, Impulse will continue its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America.

“Unlocking responsive missions across all orbits is an important component of building a successful in-space operations program, and we’re proud to be part of that journey for the U.S. government,” said Impulse Space CEO and founder Tom Mueller. “Helios’ ability to open access to high-energy orbits like GEO, with availability when needed or requested, is not only a valuable commercial service but can also help enable a strong national defense posture in space.”

Under the SpaceWERX STRATFI award, Impulse will advance the development of Helios through several critical milestones. These include comprehensive stage-level testing, qualification, final assembly, and the launch of its first demonstration flight to deploy a Department of Defense (DoD) payload.

The views expressed are those of the authors and do not reflect the official guidance or position of the United States Government, the Department of Defense, the United States Air Force, or the United States Space Force.

About Impulse Space

Impulse Space, the in-space transportation company founded by Tom Mueller, is opening access beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) with its fleet of in-space transportation vehicles. The flight-proven Mira vehicle uses a nontoxic, high-impulse chemical propulsion system to offer orbital transport, constellation deployment, and precision reentry services to customers throughout LEO. The high-energy Helios vehicle unlocks orbits beyond LEO with its powerful Deneb engine, dropping off payloads in MEO, GEO, heliocentric, lunar, and other planetary orbits. Led by a team that delivered the most reliable rockets in history, Impulse provides economical and efficient in-space transportation by reliably and rapidly getting customers where they want to go. For more information, visit www.impulsespace.com.

About Space Safari

In January 2021, the United States Space Force (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC) stood up Space Safari as a new acquisition program office. Space Safari responds to high-priority, urgent space needs by rapidly acquiring, integrating, and executing missions supporting USSPACECOM and other combatant command needs. These missions are not typically a part of an enduring program of record but respond to high priority needs to deploy space systems quickly to respond to emerging threats. As a high-speed integrator for specialized space missions, Space Safari operates with a unique mission focus, rapidly connecting space vehicles, specialized payloads, launch services and ground systems while coordinating with the operational community and end-users. Space Safari uses mature technology and existing production lines to repurpose and quickly integrate space assets from multiple organizations.

About SpaceWERX

Headquartered at the Los Angeles AFWERX hub, SpaceWERX inspires and empowers collaboration with innovators to accelerate capabilities and shape our future in space. Major technology trends that affect our national security continue to emerge from private industry, academia, and the government. The U.S. Space Force’s competitive advantage is our ability to identify, validate, acquire, and integrate those technologies quickly. Accordingly, SpaceWERX seeks to form collaborative partnerships between the military’s operational experts and the top problem solvers in industry, academia, and the government. For more information, visit spacewerx.us.

About AFWERX

As the innovation arm of the Department of the Air Force and powered by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), AFWERX brings cutting edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF. The four core arms of AFWERX – AFVentures, Spark, Prime, and SpaceWERX – serve to expand the defense industrial base for advanced technologies, empower Airmen and Guardian talent, and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. AFWERX teams internationally across academia, industry, and government to develop technology, expand talent, and transition dual-use capabilities.

About AFRL

The Air Force Research Laboratory is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space, and cyberspace force. With a workforce of more than 12,500 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit afresearchlab.com.

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