LEO Express Mission 3 Ready for Launch
Will Ride to Orbit on the Transporter 15 Mission Scheduled Monday
The LEO Express 3 mission is set to launch later today aboard the SpaceX Transporter 15 mission. This marks the third flight for Mira, a high-thrust, highly maneuverable spacecraft developed by Impulse Space, and is the first mission for the upgraded vehicle design.
Building on the successful LEO Express 1 and 2 missions, LEO Express 3 will: validate Mira’s improved systems ahead of future missions (including GEO flights beginning in 2026); provide flight heritage for multiple avionics components for future Helios flights; and fulfill customer objectives.
With customer missions spanning hosted demos, non-Earth imaging (NEI), and CubeSat deployments, Mira is once again delivering advanced in-space mobility as a responsive, high delta-v platform.
Mission Objectives Include:
Deploy Payloads: Deliver CubeSats from returning customer FOSSA Systems, using partner Exolaunch’s EXOpod Nova deployment system, to target orbital destinations
Host Payloads: Support long-term NEI operations by returning customer HEO’s Holmes Mk2 NEI camera, as well as demonstrations from Samara Aerospace (the Cicada hardware, to validate MSAC technology) and Zenno Astronautics (the Supertorquer, a superconducting actuator generating strong magnetic fields)
Deploy and Actuate Gimbaled Solar Arrays: Operate Mira’s new deployable, gimbaled solar arrays, which increase available onboard power for hosted missions
Operate Reaction Wheels: Exercise precise attitude control with Mira’s new onboard reaction wheels
Validate Helios Avionics Components: Flight testing for future Helios subsystems, including IMU, batteries, and radios
Demonstrate Upgraded Propulsion Capabilities: Validate upper bounds of performance for the upgraded Mira’s propulsion systems, which offer a 25% increase in delta-v over prior versions
Impulse Space says that with the LEO Express 3 mission, Mira is advancing in-space mobility and pushing the bounds of what’s possible for the space economy.
Transporter 15 is a dedicated rideshare mission by SpaceX. SpaceX’s SmallSat Rideshare Program provides small satellite operators with regularly scheduled, dedicated Falcon 9 rideshare missions to SSO for ESPA class payloads for as low as $300,000 per mission, which includes up to 50kg of payload mass. Liftoff is scheduled for 1:18 pm EST today