Impulse Space has unveiled a proposed mission architecture for delivering multiple tons of cargo to the Moon in the near term—the plan combines Impulse’s existing Helios kick stage and a new lunar lander, to be developed in-house. Launched on a medium- or heavy-lift rocket, this combination could take approximately 3 tons of cargo to the Moon. The proposal is a response to an existing gap in lunar cargo delivery capabilities, specifically for payloads ranging from 0.5 to 13 tons. NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program is limited to small-scale deliveries on the order of hundreds of kilograms, and the Human Landing System (HLS) vehicles (which target large payloads required for human flight) are still in development. In the near term, a landing system capable of delivering midsize payloads could be used for equipment like lunar terrain vehicles or power generators, supporting the build out of a sustainable lunar presence. Under the plan, Helios would launch on a standard medium- or heavy-lift rocket. Impulse’s lunar lander would ride as a payload on Helios. Once Helios and the lander are deployed in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Helios serves as a cruise stage, transporting the lander to low lunar orbit within one week. The lunar lander then separates from Helios and descends to the surface of the Moon. By taking advantage of Helios’s high delta-v capabilities, this proposed mission architecture doesn’t require in-space refueling.

Full report : Impulse Space unveils proposed mission architecture to deliver more mass to the lunar surface.

For more see the OODA Company Profile on Impulse Space.