Assured Access To High-Energy Orbits Highlighted In New Space Force Contract
Upper-Stage Vehicle Designated Prime Contractor For NSSL Lane 1
Impulse Space has secured a National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 Lane 1 contract that positions its Helios upper stage as a new option for delivering national security payloads to high-energy orbits.
“Pairing Helios with a standard medium-lift launch vehicle offers a more operationally flexible and cost-effective path to high-energy orbits than other solutions.”
Eric Romo, Impulse Space
The United States Space Force’s Space Systems Command awarded Impulse a Firm Fixed-Price, Indefinite-Delivery Indefinite-Quantity contract that serves as an on-ramp into the Lane 1 launch services pool. The award enables the company to compete for future missions using Helios in partnership with a medium-lift launch provider, rather than flying as a secondary service on another firm’s rocket.
Lane 1 of NSSL Phase 3 is structured to support more risk-tolerant missions with commercial-like launch services. Under the contract, Impulse will complete an initial capabilities assessment and work with Space Systems Command to develop a tailored mission assurance plan before joining the roster of eligible launch vendors.
Helios is designed as a high-energy upper stage that can move payloads from low Earth orbit to destinations such as geosynchronous orbit in less than a day. Impulse describes the system as an operationally flexible and cost-effective path to higher orbits when paired with a standard medium-lift launch vehicle.
“This award is a big validation of the capabilities we’re delivering at Impulse, and we’re honored to support national security objectives for our country,” said Eric Romo, president and chief operating officer of Impulse Space. “Pairing Helios with a standard medium-lift launch vehicle offers a more operationally flexible and cost-effective path to high-energy orbits than other solutions. We look forward to providing a new option for assured access to space for the Space Force.”
Helios is the first upper-stage vehicle to be designated as a prime contractor in the NSSL program, a role historically reserved for rocket launch providers rather than in-space mobility systems. As part of the award, Impulse will receive a $5 million firm fixed-price task order to support the initial on-ramp phases.
The company reports that Helios continues to advance through development milestones ahead of a planned first launch in 2027. Future task orders under the IDIQ structure would be issued as Space Systems Command selects missions that align with the Lane 1 profile and Helios’ capabilities.