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The newest entrant in the military’s launch competition isn't actually a launch company
Ars Technica • • business
Key Points:
- The US Space Force has added Impulse Space and Relativity Space to the pool of bidders eligible for its National Security Space Launch Phase 3 contracts, allowing them to compete for military launch missions between 2025 and 2029.
- Relativity Space is advancing its heavy-lift Terran R rocket, while Impulse Space, known for in-space spacecraft, surprised observers by joining the launch competition with its Helios kick stage designed to boost payloads to high-energy orbits like geostationary orbit.
- The Phase 3 program has two lanes: Lane 2 for established companies like SpaceX and United Launch Alliance to handle high-value payloads, and Lane 1 for newer companies to bid on more risk-tolerant missions with about 30 launches and $5.6 billion allocated.
- Impulse Space must demonstrate its Helios kick stage in flight before bidding on Lane 1 contracts; Helios, powered by the Deneb engine using liquid oxygen and methane, aims for a 2027 flight debut on a Falcon 9 rocket.
- Other companies recently added to Lane 1 include Rocket Lab with its Neutron rocket and Stoke Space with the Nova vehicle; original Phase 3 awardees in 2024 were SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, and Blue Origin.
