Impulse Space is a private aerospace company specializing in in-space transportation and logistics, enabling the rapid and affordable delivery of payloads from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), Geostationary Orbit (GEO), cislunar space, Mars, and beyond. Founded in 2021 and headquartered in Redondo Beach, California, Impulse Space’s mission is to accelerate humanity’s future in space by providing agile, economical payload delivery and hosting services. The company develops and operates a fleet of orbital transfer vehicles (OTVs) that facilitate last-mile delivery for satellites and space assets, supporting commercial, scientific, and government missions across the inner solar system.
Leadership
Founder & CEO: Tom Mueller
Tom Mueller is a renowned propulsion engineer and was employee No. 1 at SpaceX, where he served as principal engineer for the Merlin and Draco rocket engines that power the Falcon 9 and Dragon spacecraft. He brings decades of experience in rocket engine design, development, and manufacturing, making him one of the most influential figures in modern space propulsion.
President & COO: Eric Romo
Eric Romo has a background in space infrastructure and launch operations, with leadership experience in both established aerospace companies and startups.
Key Team Members
The Impulse Space team includes experts in propulsion, avionics, systems engineering, and advanced manufacturing, many with prior experience at leading aerospace and defense organizations.
Core Technologies
Orbital Transfer Vehicles (OTVs): Impulse Space’s primary products are the Mira and Helios OTVs, designed for efficient in-space transportation.
Mira: A flight-proven vehicle using a nontoxic, high-impulse chemical propulsion system for orbital transport, constellation deployment, and precision reentry services from LEO to GEO. Mira is approximately the size of a dishwasher and weighs around 300 kg when fully fueled.
Helios: A high-energy vehicle equipped with the powerful Deneb engine, enabling missions to MEO, GEO, heliocentric, lunar, and other planetary orbits. Helios is engineered for direct-to-GEO missions, bypassing the need for geostationary transfer orbits.
Spacecraft Manufacturing: In-house capabilities include 3D printing, 5-axis CNC machining, composite overwrapped pressure vessel (COPV) design, hot fire tests, and vehicle integration.
Propulsion Systems: Advanced chemical propulsion systems designed for high efficiency, reliability, and nontoxic operation.
Payload Hosting & Repositioning: Services include in-space payload hosting, asset repositioning, and deorbiting for a wide range of mission profiles.
Key Capabilities
Last-Mile Space Delivery: Rapid, precise transport of satellites and payloads from initial launch orbits to final destinations, including GEO, lunar, and interplanetary trajectories.
Constellation Deployment: Efficient deployment and management of satellite constellations.
In-Orbit Refueling: Partnership with Orbit Fab to enable in-orbit refueling missions, enhancing asset longevity and flexibility.
Mars Missions: Collaboration with Relativity Space to develop a Mars lander, with Impulse providing the lander, cruise stage, and entry capsule for a planned 2026 launch.
Space Asset Repositioning & Deorbiting: Services to reposition or safely deorbit satellites and other space assets.
Investors
Total Funding: $225 million as of October 2024.
Series A: $45 million (July 2023), led by RTX Ventures with participation from Founders Fund, Lux Capital, Airbus Ventures, and Space Capital.
Series B: $150 million (October 2024), led by Founders Fund, with participation from Lux Capital, Spring Tide, DCVC, Airbus Ventures, Alumni Ventures, Balerion Space Ventures, RTX Ventures, and others.
Valuation: Not publicly disclosed.
Company Type: Private.
Notable Clients
U.S. Space Force / Space Systems Command: Awarded Impulse Space a $34.5 million contract for in-space transportation services.
Orbit Fab: Contract for in-orbit refueling missions, including servicing the USSF Tetra-5 satellite.
Relativity Space: Partnered for a Mars lander mission, with Impulse Space responsible for the lander and cruise stage.
Other Commercial and Government Customers: Impulse Space serves a variety of clients needing payload transportation, constellation deployment, and asset repositioning.
