Helios is designed as a high-energy upper stage that can move payloads from low Earth orbit to geosynchronous orbit in less than a day.
Impulse Space’s Helios upper stage is an option for delivering national security payloads to high-energy orbits.
The contract allows Impulse Space to compete for future missions using Helios with a medium-lift launch provider.
Helios is advancing through development milestones ahead of a planned first launch in 2027.
Helios is the first upper-stage vehicle designated as a prime contractor in the NSSL program.
Spain’s Ministry of Defence has relied on cooperation with France’s Ministry of Defence for Earth observation from space since the Helios I system was introduced in 1988.
Helios II entered service on 4 December 2001 and later was replaced by France’s three-satellite CSO system.
Impulse Space designed Helios to provide rapid, cost-effective access to high-energy orbits.
Impulse Space does not develop its own launch vehicle and instead uses commercial launchers with Helios for its NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 model.
Helios is an orbital transfer vehicle designed to move satellites to high-energy orbits, including geostationary orbit.
Helios is scheduled to complete a demonstration flight in 2027 before Impulse Space can compete for future operational missions in NSSL Phase 3.
Impulse Space will procure a commercial launch vehicle under Lane 1 and integrate its Helios orbital transfer vehicle and the designated satellite into the payload fairing.
The U.S. Space Force intends to use Helios to add greater operational flexibility to its rapid deployment pipelines.
The U.S. Space Force intends to use Helios to add operational flexibility to its rapid deployment pipelines.
SES signed a multi-launch agreement with Impulse Space in 2025 to use Helios for direct geostationary delivery.
SES and Impulse Space signed a multi-launch agreement in 2025 to use Helios for direct geostationary delivery.
Helios can deliver satellites directly into high-energy regimes and bypass multi-month electric propulsion orbit-raising maneuvers.
Helios can deliver satellites directly into high-energy regimes instead of using multi-month electric propulsion orbit-raising maneuvers.
Impulse Space’s first commercial flight of the Helios high-energy kick stage is scheduled for 2027.
Impulse Space’s Helios is a high-energy upper stage designed to work with a qualified medium-lift rocket provider.