Impulse Space has announced an ambitious plan to transport tons of cargo to the moon as early as 2028, targeting a gap in the market for mid-sized lunar deliveries.
The company plans to pair a new lunar lander with its “Helios” high-energy kick stage, enabling deliveries of up to six tons across two missions without the need for refueling in orbit. Impulse says this approach offers a “cost-effective price point” for payloads ranging from 0.5 to 13 tons, including rovers, habitat modules, power generators, communication systems, and even lunar terrain vehicles.
Founded by former SpaceX propulsion chief Tom Mueller, Impulse aims to fill a “critical gap” between smaller landers in NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program and the larger human-rated landers being developed by SpaceX and Blue Origin.
Under the proposed system, the lander and Helios would launch together on a standard rocket and deploy in low-Earth orbit. Helios would then transport the lander to low lunar orbit within seven days. Once in position, the lander would separate and descend to the lunar surface.
Impulse brings extensive expertise in spacecraft engine development. The company is already developing the lunar lander engine, which uses the same fuel combination as the Saiph thrusters on its small spacecraft, Mira. Helios is also well into development, with a first flight planned for late 2026 and multiple annual flights expected by 2028.
Execution risks remain. Lunar lander engines must be throttleable, restartable, and have a high specific impulse for precise control in the vacuum of space. In a press release, the company noted, “we stand ready to execute as dictated by industry demand and interest.”
If successful, Impulse Space could open a new chapter in lunar logistics, providing a reliable schedule for mid-sized cargo deliveries and expanding opportunities for lunar exploration and development.
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