Last updated: Jan 17, 2023
Mission: LEO Express-1 | Status: Ongoing with Primary Mission Objectives Complete | Impulse Vehicle: Mira
Launcher: SpaceX | Mission: Transporter-9 | Site: Vandenberg | Date: November 2023
LEO Express-1 is the inaugural mission for Impulse’s Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV), Mira. Launched on the SpaceX Transporter-9 mission in November 2023, the ongoing mission has achieved the following set of milestones:
The ongoing LEO Express-1 mission represents a remarkable achievement in rapid spacecraft development, reliable technology, and sustainable space operations. The mission continues to push boundaries, showcasing our advancements and in-space transportation capabilities.
The Impulse team with Mira
April 3rd, 2024
Update 8: Primary mission objectives complete!
After four months navigating orbit, Mira — our first orbital transfer vehicle — has successfully completed all of its primary mission objectives!
We celebrated the final milestone on Thursday with our eighth and most significant burn: 75 seconds in duration, achieving a 150 km apogee raise. We think this is the largest single maneuver to date by a nitrous-based propulsion system and the largest orbit raise by any OTV on its debut mission. The ability to change an orbit by hundreds of kilometers within minutes demonstrates the type of rapid maneuvering capability Impulse wants to bring to the industry. Mira's time in orbit isn't over yet — we are continuing to test and fly, prepping for our next mission, which will launch later this year.
Delta-v and altitude raise from Mira's eighth burn
March 19th, 2024
Update 7: Imagery of Mira's seventh burn 🔥
Day and night shots of Mira and its Saiph thrusters. The night image shows our seventh burn, where all eight thrusters fired for ~60 seconds. They imparted 34 m/s delta-v, performed a plane change, and lowered Mira's orbit by ~30 km.
Saiph thrusters firing on Mira LEO Express-1
Saiph thrusters on Mira LEO Express-1
Accumulated delta-v from burn #7
December 26th, 2023
Update 6: Dodging Orbital Debris During the Holidays 🎄
Today, our Mira orbit transfer vehicle executed a collision avoidance maneuver in response to a potential collision risk identified by the US Space Force. The maneuver successfully eliminated any possibility of collision! Thanks to our Mission Operations team for working during the holidays to track this risk and react accordingly. Being prepared to perform these maneuvers on short notice is a crucial part of responsible spacecraft operations.
Mira orbital elements during the maneuver
December 21, 2023
Update 5: First-try ignition of all eight bi-propellant Saiph thrusters!
Mira has Impulse! Yesterday marked a major milestone as we executed a flawless first-time firing of all eight 5lb (22N) Saiph thrusters on our orbital transfer vehicle, Mira—hats off to our team for their engineering preparation and a well-tested system.
Saiph thruster acceptance testing and integration to Mira
December 4th, 2023
UPDATE 4: Customer Deployment — TrustPoint 3U CubeSat
Mira successfully deployed its payload, a 3U CubeSat for Trustpoint. Thank you, TrustPoint, for flying on LEO Express-1!
November 13, 2023
UPDATE 3: Successful Vehicle Commissioning
Great news for our Mira LEO Express 1 mission — we are receiving data and spacecraft health is good!
November 11th, 2023
UPDATE 2: Transporter-9 Launch 🚀
Mira launched on its inaugural mission, LEO Express-1, from Vandenberg Space Force Base (SLC-4E) aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Go Mira!
SpaceX Transporter-9 Launch
November 1st, 2023
UPDATE 1: Mira is ready for Space
Mira and the Impulse team