Exolaunch and Impulse Space Announce Strategic Partnership in Satellite Launch and In-Space Transportation Services

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Exolaunch, the global leader in launch mission management, integration, and satellite deployment services, and Impulse Space, a leader in in-space transportation services, announced the signing of a Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA). Unveiled at the 38th annual Small Satellite Conference, the agreement marks the beginning of a robust collaboration aimed at elevating payload delivery services for commercial, academic, and institutional customers.

The SPA defines several key areas of cooperation between Exolaunch and Impulse Space. Exolaunch will supply advanced separation systems for cubesats and microsats, such as the industry-leading EXOpod Nova and CarboNIX, as well as integration and mission management services. Impulse Space will contribute its suite of OTVs, including Mira for delivering satellites in LEO, MEO, GEO, Cislunar or beyond; Helios, their high-performance kick stage, will also service satellites targeting Geostationary Orbit. Together, using hardware and services, the companies can offer customers detailed mission design analysis and solutions for unique orbital requirements. Exolaunch and Impulse Space will jointly support a launch as early as fall 2024 with the LEO Express-2, where multiple customer satellites will be deployed throughout the mission. The companies will continue to collaborate on missions in 2025 and beyond under the terms of the agreement.

This announcement follows closely after Impulse Space's reveal of its new GEO Rideshare Program, in which Exolaunch will also support to provide customers with responsive and reliable payload delivery in space. The program will enable delivery of four tons of aggregated small satellite mass to Geostationary Orbit in under one day, as well as upgrades to their orbital transfer vehicle (OTV), Mira. Mira improvements include a payload plate redesign to support a variety of integration options, setting a new precedent in OTV performance, such as: multiple small satellite clusters, up to nine EXOpod Nova containerized deployers, and a 300 kg payload.

“Having successfully launched nearly 400 satellites across 29 rideshare missions, including a 16U to GEO in 2023, Exolaunch is the embodiment of reliability, heritage, and the perfect partner for our GEO Rideshare Program and payload delivery services,” said Impulse Space’s Director of Commercial Sales, Joshua Rea. “I love that we share a customer-first mindset, and the team is excited to work alongside Exolaunch, helping satellite operators realize the next phase of their constellations.”

“We're thrilled to work with Impulse, whose technical expertise and innovation make them an ideal partner,” added Kier Fortier, vice president of global business development and US managing director at Exolaunch. “This partnership unlocks new opportunities for our global customer base, enabling us to provide even more comprehensive and tailored solutions. The complementary strengths between Exolaunch and Impulse make this partnership a natural fit, and we eagerly look forward to this expanded product offering.”

With the SPA in effect, leveraging Exolaunch’s rich heritage of deployment services and Impulse Space’s industry-leading orbital maneuvering capabilities, the two companies are bringing additional orbital diversity and mission profiles to the satellite launch market. This partnership will not only broaden the capabilities of both organizations, but also establish new standards for mission success and customer satisfaction, aiming to deliver more efficient, reliable, and innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of their customers.