Impulse Space has signed a significant multi-launch agreement with global satellite operator SES to deliver its satellites to medium Earth orbit (MEO) and geostationary orbit (GEO), marking a major milestone for the space logistics company’s Helios orbital transfer vehicle.
Announced on May 22, the deal begins with a 2027 mission in which Impulse’s Helios kick stage will transport a four-metric-ton SES satellite from low Earth orbit (LEO) to GEO in under eight hours. The satellite will first be launched into LEO aboard a medium-class rocket, though the launch provider and the specific SES satellite have not yet been disclosed.
This agreement represents the first dedicated commercial mission for Helios, which was introduced by Impulse Space in early 2024. Designed to handle payloads up to five tons, the Helios transfer vehicle aims to dramatically shorten the journey from LEO to GEO—reducing it from weeks or months, as is typical with electric propulsion or conventional kick stages, to under a single day.
Tom Mueller, CEO and founder of Impulse Space, emphasized the importance of faster access to high-energy orbits. “MEO and GEO are critical to the global space infrastructure, but current transport options are slow and inflexible,” Mueller said. “Helios is engineered to change that—delivering large payloads quickly and reliably.”
SES, a pioneer in embracing new space technologies, sees the partnership as a way to enhance both satellite performance and service timelines. “This collaboration not only speeds up the time it takes to reach orbit, but also extends satellite operational life and accelerates our ability to serve customers,” said SES CEO Adel Al-Saleh.
SES has a track record of innovation in launch services, having been the first GEO operator to fly with SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and the first to use a reused Falcon 9 booster.
The agreement includes options for additional missions, allowing SES to deploy future satellites to both GEO and MEO with Helios.
Beyond SES, Impulse Space has attracted other customers for its orbital transport services. In September 2024, the company signed a deal with French startup Space Network Services to deliver up to six small GEO satellites as part of a geostationary rideshare program launched a month earlier.
Impulse is also supporting the U.S. military through a $34.5 million contract awarded in October for the Victus Surgo and Victus Salo missions. These missions will utilize the company’s smaller Mira vehicle, although on Victus Surgo, Mira will be carried to GEO by a Helios tug—demonstrating Helios’s flexibility across mission types.
With Helios preparing for its commercial debut and high-profile partners like SES onboard, Impulse Space is positioning itself as a key player in the next generation of orbital transport.
