Impulse Space detailed the company’s first electric propulsion system called Electra, built to support long-duration operations in space.
This comes after a year ago, Impulse said it was exploring developing electric propulsion, in addition to the company’s lineup of chemical propulsion. Within six months, the company had fired the propulsion system and is now qualifying Electra flight engines for integration with the Mira spacecraft.
Impulse said Tuesday the system is nearly fully vertically integrated and built in-house, including the thruster and supporting avionics.
The Electra propulsion system is set for its first in-space demonstration on the Impulse’s GEO Express 1 mission as part of its new GEO rideshare program. It will fly on the Caravan 1 mission next year.
Explaining how it works alongside chemical propulsion, Impulse compared electric propulsion to a marathon runner, while chemical propulsion is a sprinter. Electric propulsion can handle station-keeping, freeing up onboard chemical propulsion to be used for maneuverability.
“As launch becomes more accessible, the next frontier is enabling spacecraft to do more once they arrive in orbit,” said Impulse Space Founder, CEO and CTO Tom Mueller. “Our strategy has always been to develop the mobility technologies needed to support all missions after launch, and electric propulsion is an essential component of that strategy.”
