Impulse Space unveils upgraded Mira spacecraft, expanding capabilities beyond LEO

Date:
Wed, 06 Aug 2025 13:00:42 +0000

Description:
Impulse Space, the aerospace firm founded by Tom Muellerthe engineering mastermind behind SpaceXs Merlin and The post Impulse Space unveils upgraded Mira spacecraft, expanding capabilities beyond LEO appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com .

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Impulse Space, the aerospace firm founded by Tom Muellerthe engineering mastermind behind SpaceXs Merlin and Draco rocket engineshas announced significant upgrades to its Mira spacecraft, positioning it as a versatile space tug ready to tackle more challenging orbits and missions.



Mira serves as an orbital workhorse, akin to a tow truck or delivery van in space. Designed to transport payloads like satellites or scientific experiments between orbits, it also enables in-space services such as repositioning, refueling, or debris removal.

This high-maneuverability vehicle excels in optimizing satellite deployments, particularly in rideshare launches where multiple payloads hitch a ride on a single rocket. With substantial delta-v (change in velocity) capacity, Mira can precisely place or adjust objects in orbit, making it a key player in the growing field of space logistics.

The company has already demonstrated Miras prowess through two successful flights: LEO Express-1, launched on SpaceXs Transporter-9 mission, and LEO Express-2 on Transporter-12. The debut flight showcased Impulses proprietary technologies, including thrusters, star trackers, core avionics, flight software, and guidance systems. It also successfully deployed a customer payloada 3U CubeSat for TrustPoint, marking a milestone in commercial operations.

Building on that foundation, LEO Express-2 remains operational in orbit, having released multiple payloads and executed various maneuvers using Impulses Saiph thrusters, named after a bright star in the Orion constellation. The vehicle even sports a playful Hows my orbital maneuvering? sticker, reflecting the teams confidence in its performance. The latest upgrades propel Mira into harsher environments like Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), Geostationary Orbit (GEO), and beyond. Enhanced reaction wheels and antennas, along with radiation-hardened avionics, ensure reliability amid increased radiation exposure.

Equipped with four in-house-built reaction wheels and star trackers, the spacecraft gains superior precision in orientationcritical for applications like Earth observation, where accurate pointing prevents costly imaging errors.

Power generation sees a major boost as well, with deployable, articulating solar arrays replacing fixed panels. This design more than doubles available power by optimizing sun exposure, supporting demanding payloads and extended operations. The standout improvement lies in the Saiph thrusters, upgraded from 22 Newtons to 27 Newtons of thrusta 20% increase across the vehicles eight units. Combined with expanded propellant capacity, this yields a 25% enhancement in delta-v. For a 100-kilogram payload, Mira can now achieve 900 meters per second of velocity change, dramatically expanding its reach. In practical terms, its like upgrading a local delivery van to one capable of regional hauls.

Looking ahead, Impulse is gearing up for LEO Express-3 later this year, incorporating these upgrades.

This upgraded Mira extends our core capabilities into higher orbits, with the same emphasis on responsiveness, maneuverability, and precision, said Drew Damon, Vice President of Spacecraft Programs at Impulse Space. Weve now assembled and tested the first full vehicle, complete with customer payloads. Were excited to put it in orbit later this year.

The company has also secured two Department of Defense contracts: VICTUS
SURGO and VICTUS SALO, focused on tactically responsive space demonstrations. Unlike Fireflys 2023 VICTUS NOX rapid-launch exercise, these missions emphasize on-orbit readiness. Mira will loiter in space, awaiting tasks such as monitoring potential threats or tracking objects of interest. While Mira relies on external launches to reach orbit, Impulses upcoming Helios kickstageset to debut next yearwill complement it as a long-haul tug, capable of moving up to 5 metric tons from Low Earth Orbit to GEO, lunar, or heliocentric orbits. Together, Mira and Helios promise unparalleled in-space maneuverability.

Impulses pipeline extends to commercial ventures, including a GEO rideshare program, a multi-launch deal with satellite operator SES, and NASA studies.
As space tugs like Mira evolve, they could revolutionize satellite
operations, reducing costs and enabling more dynamic orbital ecosystems.

To achieve a thriving space economy and reach a true space age, we need to dramatically improve in-space mobility from where it currently stands, said Mueller, founder and CEO of Impulse Space. With its first two missions, Mira has already proven to be a strong step in the right direction, and were confident that this updated design will further accelerate opportunities across the commercial, civil, and defense sectors.





The post Impulse Space unveils upgraded Mira spacecraft, expanding capabilities beyond LEO appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com .



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Link to news story: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2025/08/impulse-upgraded-mira-spacecraft-expan ding-capabilities/


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