NASA has announced a contract with Impulse Space to conduct two orbital vehicle studies, aimed at finding cost-effective ways of delivering spacecraft to complex orbital targets. The work is carried out under the VADR contract (Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare Launch Services) through the Launch Services Program and will provide NASA with information on commercial OTV capabilities to plan future missions.
Research will focus on, how Impulse Space's Mira and Helios platforms can help NASA reach hard-to-reach orbits more efficiently. Potential applications include delivering multiple payloads to different orbits in a single launch or extending the capabilities of a single payload beyond current launch service limitations. This can significantly reduce costs and increase mission flexibility.
The Mira platform is a highly maneuverable spacecraft with powerful thrust, designed for placement and deployment of cargo in low Earth orbit, medium earth orbit, geostationary orbit, lunar space and beyond. She has already successfully completed two missions, having demonstrated flexible placement and deployment of payloads within the target orbit.
Helios is a high-energy launch platform, designed for fast delivery of goods to medium, geostationary orbit and other distant targets. It is able to transport more than 5 tons from low Earth orbit to geostationary less than 24 years, enabling cost savings by combining medium launch vehicles with access to high energy orbits.
This initiative is in line with Impulse Space's mission to accelerate humanity's expansion beyond Earth, providing quick, reliable and economical transport solutions in space. Research, which will be completed by mid-September 2025 year, will help NASA optimize mission design, planning and strategies for commercial launches, potentially opening up opportunities for larger cargoes and less risky operations in the future.
Source: https://www.spacedaily.com