Impulse Space announced an ambitious plan on Tuesday to use its technology to transport tons of cargo to the moon as early as 2028. The company aims to fill a perceived gap in the current market for mid-sized surface deliveries. This plan involves pairing a new lunar lander with its Helios high-energy kick stage to move tons of material to the lunar surface without requiring orbital refueling. The objective is to deliver up to six tons of payload to the moon across two missions at a cost-effective price point.
The startup, founded by former SpaceX propulsion chief Tom Mueller, argues this capacity addresses a critical gap in lunar payload logistics. It is designed for cargo that is too large for landers in NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program yet too small for the larger human-rated landers being developed by companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin. Payloads fitting this description are estimated to be between 0.5 and 13 tons, which could include items such as rovers, habitat modules, power generators, communications systems, or a lunar terrain vehicle.
Under the proposed plan, the lander and kick stage would launch on a standard rocket and be deployed in low Earth orbit. The Helios stage would then transport the lander to low lunar orbit within a seven-day period. Following this, the two vehicles would separate, and the lander would begin its descent to the surface.
Impulse Space brings considerable expertise in spacecraft engine development to this project. Work is already underway on the lunar lander engine, which will use the same fuel combination as the Saiph thrusters found on the company’s small Mira spacecraft. Meanwhile, the Helios kick stage is reported to be well into development, with its first flight scheduled for late 2026. The company estimates that Helios will be flying multiple times per year by 2028.
Execution risks for the project remain. As the company notes, a lunar lander engine must be throttleable, restartable, and possess a high specific impulse to provide precise control in the vacuum of space. Impulse Space appeared to be hedging its commitment in a press release, stating it stands ready to execute based on industry demand and interest. However, if the company succeeds, it could establish an entirely new schedule for lunar deliveries.