Impulse Space details plans to deliver up to 6 tons per year to the Moon

Motive space The company laid out an ambitious plan on Tuesday to use its technology to transport tons of cargo to the moon as early as 2028, aiming to fill what it sees as a gap in today’s market for medium-sized surface deliveries.

The company says it will pair the new lunar lander with a high-powered Helios kick stage to transport tons to the surface without the need for in-orbit refueling. The goal is to deliver up to 6 tons of payload to the Moon across two missions “at a cost-effective price.”

startup, It was founded by former SpaceX propulsion chief Tom MuellerHe argues that this capability would fill a “critical gap” in lunar payload logistics, for cargo that is too large to fit on landers as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, and too small for upcoming human-classed landers being developed by SpaceX and Blue Origin.

Impulse says payloads that reach this mark range from about 0.5 to 13 tons, a range that could include rovers, habitat modules, power generators, communications systems, or even a lunar terrain vehicle.

Under the proposed architecture, the landing and kick stage would be launched on a standard rocket where they would be deployed in low Earth orbit. Helios will transfer the lander to low lunar orbit within seven days, after which the two rovers will separate, and the lander will descend to the surface.

Impulse offers deep expertise in spacecraft engine development; It is already working on the lunar lander engine, which uses the same fuel composition as the Saiph thrusters used in the company’s small Mira spacecraft.

Meanwhile, Helios is “already in development,” with the first flight scheduled for late 2026. The company estimates it will be flying Helios several times a year by 2028.

Implementation risks remain. As the company points out, the lunar landing engine must be throttleable, restart-capable, and with high specific impulse to provide superior control in the vacuum of space. Impulse appeared to be hedging its bets in a press release, saying: “We stand ready to execute as industry demand and interest dictate.” But if the company can deliver, it will open up a whole new lunar delivery schedule.