Momentus space

Last updated

Momentus Inc, sometimes styled Momentus space, is an American spaceflight company founded by Mikhail Kokorich which plans to offer space infrastructure services in the form of on-orbit services. [1] [2] [3] The company advertises three orbital tug services which are based around spacecraft electric propulsion and vary in payload mass and Delta-v. As of late 2022 the company has launched one demonstration mission, which produced positive results. [4]

Contents

History

Momentus space was a 2018 graduate of the Y Combinator program.

Momentus space received 8.3 million US dollars of seed funding in November 2018. [3] The investors were Prime Movers Lab, Liquid 2 Ventures, One Way Ventures, Mountain Nazca, Y Combinator, and others.

In 2019, Momentus claimed that its Microwave Electrothermal Thruster (MET) was successfully tested in space, though the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission accused it of misleading investors via this claim. [5]

In 2020, Momentus was merged with a SPAC which valued it at 1.2 Billion US dollars [6] though its valuation quickly dropped to half of this value when it began public trading. [2]

Momentus space had its first demonstration launch of a vehicle in 2022, which achieved great results.

Services

Momentus space lists plans to offer "space infrastructure" services, including space transportation, on-orbit refueling, and on-orbit services of satellites. Space transportation in the form of space tugs is particularly emphasized. The website lists three models of tug with successively larger payload masses and Delta-v capabilities, in ascending order, name Vigoride, Ardoride, and Fervoride. A still larger tug, called Valoride, has since been removed from their website. [3] These tugs are propelled by the company's Microwave Electrothermal Thruster (MET), a form of spacecraft electric propulsion in which water is ionized by microwaves and accelerated out of the spacecraft. The specific impulse of these propulsion systems is targeted to be "two or three times" that of chemical propulsion systems, putting them at the low end of existing electric propulsion systems (this conversely puts them at the high end of the specific thrust, or thrust per unit input power). [3]

First demonstration flight

On May 26, 2022, Momentus space launched its first demonstration mission on a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle as part of the Transporter-5 multi-payload ride-share launch. [7] The Momentus Vigoride-3 space tug was one of several private space tugs launched by that mission. The Vigoride tug carried several payloads for two customers, FOSSA Systems and Orbit NTNU. The Vigoride spacecraft experienced multiple anomalies: at least one due to folding solar panels not deploying, and at least one which caused an off-nominal communication mode. [4] [8] [9] The spacecraft deployed two FOSSA satellites on May 28, 3 days after its launch, and four more between June and August inclusive. Between August and September inclusive, the spacecraft deployed its Orbit NTNU payload, called SelfieSat. As of September 2022, two remaining FOSSA payloads remained un-deployed on the Vigoride spacecraft. [10]

Another Vigoride demonstration mission, using the Vigoride-5 spacecraft, launched on the SpaceX Transporter-6 launch on 3 January 2023. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hall-effect thruster</span> Type of electric propulsion system

In spacecraft propulsion, a Hall-effect thruster (HET) is a type of ion thruster in which the propellant is accelerated by an electric field. Hall-effect thrusters are sometimes referred to as Hall thrusters or Hall-current thrusters. Hall-effect thrusters use a magnetic field to limit the electrons' axial motion and then use them to ionize propellant, efficiently accelerate the ions to produce thrust, and neutralize the ions in the plume. The Hall-effect thruster is classed as a moderate specific impulse space propulsion technology and has benefited from considerable theoretical and experimental research since the 1960s.

<i>Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter</i> Canceled NASA orbiter mission to Jupiters icy moons

The Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter (JIMO) was a proposed NASA spacecraft designed to explore the icy moons of Jupiter. The main target was Europa, where an ocean of liquid water may harbor alien life. Ganymede and Callisto, which are now thought to also have liquid, salty oceans beneath their icy surfaces, were also targets of interest for the probe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CubeSat</span> Miniature satellite in 10 cm cube modules

A CubeSat is a class of miniaturized satellite with a form factor of 10 cm (3.9 in) cubes. CubeSats have a mass of no more than 2 kg (4.4 lb) per unit, and often use commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components for their electronics and structure. CubeSats are put into orbit by deployers on the International Space Station, or launched as secondary payloads on a launch vehicle. As of December 2023, more than 2,300 CubeSats have been launched.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spacecraft electric propulsion</span> Type of space propulsion using electrostatic and electromagnetic fields for acceleration

Spacecraft electric propulsion is a type of spacecraft propulsion technique that uses electrostatic or electromagnetic fields to accelerate mass to high speed and thus generate thrust to modify the velocity of a spacecraft in orbit. The propulsion system is controlled by power electronics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Space tug</span> Spacecraft used to transfer cargo from one orbit to another

A space tug is a type of spacecraft used to transfer spaceborne cargo from one orbit to another orbit with different energy characteristics. The term can include expendable upper stages or spacecraft that are not necessarily a part of their launch vehicle. However, it can also refer to a spacecraft that transports payload already in space to another location in outer space, such as in the Space Transportation System concept. An example would be moving a spacecraft from a low Earth orbit (LEO) to a higher-energy orbit like a geostationary transfer orbit, a lunar transfer, or an escape trajectory.

The EELV Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) is an adapter for launching secondary payloads on orbital launch vehicles.

<i>Psyche</i> (spacecraft) Reconnaissance mission of the main belt asteroid 16 Psyche

Psyche is a NASA Discovery Program space mission launched on October 13, 2023 to explore the origin of planetary cores by orbiting and studying the metallic asteroid 16 Psyche beginning in 2029. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) manages the project.

NanoAvionics Corp is a small satellite bus manufacturer and mission integrator founded as a spin-off from Vilnius University, Lithuania in 2014.

SHERPA is a commercial satellite dispenser developed by Andrews Space, a subsidiary of Spaceflight Industries, and was unveiled in 2012. The maiden flight was on 3 December 2018 on a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket, and it consisted of two separate unpropelled variants of the dispenser.

Relativity Space is an American aerospace manufacturing company headquartered in Long Beach, California. Relativity Space is developing manufacturing technologies, launch vehicles, and rocket engines for commercial orbital launch services. The company is notable for manufacturing most of their Terran 1 and Terran R rocket parts using 3D printing.

NASA's Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator (PTD) Project will test the operation of a variety of novel technologies on a type of nanosatellites known as CubeSats, providing significant enhancements to the performance of these versatile spacecraft. Each of the five planned PTD missions consist of a 6-unit (6U) CubeSat with expandable solar arrays.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CAPSTONE</span> NASA satellite to test the Lunar Gateway orbit

CAPSTONE is a lunar orbiter that will test and verify the calculated orbital stability planned for the Lunar Gateway space station. The spacecraft is a 12-unit CubeSat that will also test a navigation system that will measure its position relative to NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) without relying on ground stations. It was launched on 28 June 2022, arrived in lunar orbit on 14 November 2022, and was scheduled to orbit for six months. On 18 May 2023, it completed its primary mission to orbit in the near-rectilinear halo orbit for six months, but will stay on this orbit, continuing to perform experiments during an enhanced mission phase.

EnduroSat AD is a Bulgarian aerospace manufacturer headquartered in Sofia. It was founded in 2015 by Raycho Raychev. The company designs, builds, and operates CubeSats and Nanosatellites for commercial and scientific missions and is developing inter-satellite linking and data applications. EnduroSat was nominated as one of the top 5 small satellite start-ups.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Power and Propulsion Element</span> Power and propulsion module for the Gateway space station

The Power and Propulsion Element (PPE), previously known as the Asteroid Redirect Vehicle propulsion system, is a planned solar electric ion propulsion module being developed by Maxar Technologies for NASA. It is one of the major components of the Lunar Gateway. The PPE will allow access to the entire lunar surface and a wide range of lunar orbits and double as a space tug for visiting craft.

Vigoride is a space tug that is under development by Momentus Space. The total payload capacity that it can support to LEO is 750 kg. Vigoride is capable of changing orbital planes, inclination, and propelling spacecraft to up to 2 km/s. It also provides small satellite operators access to power, communications, and station keeping while with the tug. Momentus states that the cost is roughly $15,000 per kg depending on the exact customer specifications. Vigoride uses a microwave electrothermal thruster (MET) and water as the propellant. In 2019, the first test of the MET in space was completed and was deemed a success in a press release, while the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission accused it of misleading investors. The maiden launch was originally scheduled for January 2021, but was delayed due to Momentus not being able to receive FAA approval before the launch. On 22 March 2021, a Vigoride mock-up named Vigoride SC was launched in place of a functional Vigoride. In October 2020, the company stated that it had already booked 1.5 Vigorides out of the 3 planned to be launched in December 2021. On 25 May 2022, Momentus launched its first Vigoride spacecraft aboard SpaceX Transporter 5 mission.

D-Orbit is a private aerospace company headquartered in Italy with subsidiaries in Portugal, the UK and the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FOSSA Systems</span> Satellite manufacturing company

FOSSA Systems is a company based in Madrid, Spain, specializing in satellite manufacturing and IoT solutions. Their services include space-related technologies and solutions for IoT applications. The company operates within the European market.

Vast is a privately held American aerospace company headquartered in Long Beach, California. It was founded in 2021 by entrepreneur Jed McCaleb with the goal of developing artificial gravity space stations to "expand humanity beyond the solar system".

References

  1. ↑ "Momentus" . Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  2. 1 2 Sheetz, Michael (13 August 2021). "Space company Momentus begins trading on the Nasdaq, with new CEO after turbulent SPAC merger". CNBC. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Momentus Plasma Water Propulsion Will Be Two to Three Times Better Than Chemical Rockets | NextBigFuture.com". 2018-11-14. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  4. 1 2 "Vigoride™ First Flight". momentus.space. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  5. ↑ "Order Instituting Cease-and-desist proceedings against Momentus, Inc" (PDF). US Securities and Exchange Commission.
  6. ↑ "MOMENTUS TO BECOME PUBLIC THROUGH MERGER WITH STABLE ROAD ACQUISITION CORP". US Securities and Exchange Commission. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  7. ↑ Foust, Jeff (2022-05-26). "SpaceX launches Transporter-5 dedicated smallsat rideshare mission". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  8. ↑ Mike Wall (2022-06-10). "Momentus troubleshooting problems with newly launched space tug". Space.com. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  9. ↑ Foust, Jeff (2022-06-14). "Momentus increasingly pessimistic about first Vigoride mission". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  10. ↑ "Momentus First Demonstration Mission Update #5". momentus.space. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  11. ↑ "Live coverage: SpaceX counting down to first launch of 2023". 3 January 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.