Impulse Space’s Mira, a cutting-edge Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV), is demonstrating its prowess on the LEO Express-2 mission, launched aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-12 from Vandenberg Space Force Base on January 14, 2025. This mission highlights Mira's advanced capabilities in satellite deployment and orbital maneuvers, reaffirming Impulse’s role as a leader in in-space transportation.

Mission Highlights

• Satellite Deployment: Deliver commercial CubeSats to precise orbital locations, including payloads from FOSSA Systems and RIDE!.
• Hosted Payload Operations: Long-term Non-Earth Imagery (NEI) operations at various orbits in partnership with HEO.
• Exolaunch Collaboration: Flying the first-ever EXOpod on an OTV as part of our partnership with Exolaunch, advancing satellite deployment technologies.
• High-thrust Orbital Maneuvers: Demonstrate rapid, high-thrust maneuvers using Mira's Saiph thrusters.
• Expand Mira’s Collision Avoidance Capabilities: Reinforcing Impulse’s role as a responsible and efficient operator.
• Demonstrate Enhanced Communication Systems: Mira will feature new dual-redundant S- and X-band radios, advanced software, and many new ground stations.

The Impulse team with Mira

LEO Express-2 represents not just a mission, but a demonstration of what’s possible. With each launch, Mira proves that efficient, reliable, and adaptable in-space transportation is not just a goal, it’s a reality.

Mission Updates

January 27, 2025 - Payload Deployment — Bluebon 6U-XL CubeSat

CubeSat deployed! Mira has completed the orbital insertion of Bluebon, a 6U-XL CubeSat from SatRev, as part of RIDE!’s Deep Blue Mission.

Special thanks to our customer, RIDE! It’s been a pleasure collaborating with you on such a seamless mission. We’re also big fans of your Deep Blue RIDE! mission patch, inspired by the sci-fi classic Deep Blue Sea. The patch beautifully features the satellite orbiting Earth’s oceans, symbolizing its mission to support efforts in monitoring and protecting our planet’s fragile marine ecosystems.

January 22, 2025 - Vehicle Commissioning

LEO Express-2 is progressing smoothly, with Mira in good health as we rapidly execute vehicle commissioning.

We’ve established healthy uplink and downlink, utilizing both S- and X-band frequencies across an array of ground stations, and all systems are performing within expectations. Notably, we have already downlinked approximately 10x the quantity of data as we did for LEO Express-1, a testament to the major upgrades to radios and software on this build.

January 14, 2025 - Successful Launch

Mira has officially launched on its second mission, LEO Express-2, aboard the Transporter-12 mission with SpaceX from SLC-4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base. Following deployment, we successfully received initial data from Mira, verified the nominal operation of our attitude control system, and are continuing to work through the commissioning steps. Go, Mira!

The Impulse team with Mira during integration

This milestone comes after months of preparation. As of December 18, 2024, Mira cleared its Final Mission Readiness Review, completing all pre-launch checks and integration with the launch vehicle. The mission team worked tirelessly on-site at Vandenberg Space Force Base to ensure mission readiness and a seamless launch.

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