Momentus Space

Momentus intends to use a multi-pronged approach to become a provider of three critical functions in the new space economy: Space Transportation, Satellite as a Service, and In-Orbit Servicing.

Created: 2018-11-22

Updated: 2024-02-29

Company - Momentus Space

Founded
Country
2017
USA
Funding
$153.8M+
Website
Momentus
Social
Momentus Space

Product/Service - Vigoride

Classification
In-Space Transportation
Category
Space Tug
In-Space Logistics
Fields
In-Space Transportation
Transport Service (In-Space)
Transport Service (LEO-GEO)
Status
Active
First launch
2022

“Momentus informed Stable Road that it does not expect to fly any missions in 2021 and that this determination was based on information from SpaceX that it was suspending its Momentus-related efforts while Momentus works to secure approvals from the U.S. government,” Stable Road wrote.

Redwire, a new leader in mission critical space solutions and high reliability components for the next generation space economy, has been selected by Momentus, a commercial space company offering in-space infrastructure services, to develop robotics systems for their next generation Vigoride in-space transportation vehicle. The multi-phase contract will include a system architecture study and delivery of a flight-qualified robotics system that will operate on a flight demonstration in 2022. The agreement builds on the Memorandum of Understanding between Redwire and Momentus that was announced in September 2020.

First mission in 2022
The first orbital transfer vehicle launched by Momentus in 2022 continues to experience problems and the company says its confidence that the spacecraft can complete its mission has “substantially declined. The company said one issue with the spacecraft was a problem with solar arrays that failed to deploy as expected after launch. This caused both power and communications issues, the company said, although other body-mounted solar arrays did work correctly. The failure of the solar arrays to deploy has reduced power and limited communication. The company did have initial contact with Vigoride-3 and was able to confirm the two satellite deployments, but even with Federal Communications Commission approval of the use of unplanned frequencies it has not been able to maintain two-way communications.

Publications and news:

Momentus is now offering a version of its Vigoride tug as a satellite bus for commercial and government customers (SpaceNews 2023-08-07)

Completed an initial test sequence of the Microwave Electrothermal Thruster (MET) on its Vigoride-5 vehicle launched in January on SpaceX’s Transporter-6 rideshare mission. The MET uses microwaves to turn water into plasma to generate thrust (SpaceNews, 2023-03-31).

Momentus Disclose Financial Turmoil Amid Mission Cancellation, 2024-02-05. Stand down their Vigoride 7 servicer that was supposed to launch onboard SpaceX’s Transporter 10 on 1st March.

Sources


Most sources should be linked in the texts and headings as revealed by mouse-over, but here are they listed for visibility.

Similar Organizations

Space Tug, Orbital Transportation

Absolut System

Concept

Astris, Susie

Space Tug, Orbital Transportation, Space Situational Awareness (SSA)

ArianeGroup (Arianespace)

Development

NEMO

Space Tug

Astrait (Levity)

Development

Quark

Space Tug, In-Space Logistics, Resources - Energy, On-Orbit Servicing, Propellant Refuel Station, Propellant Refilling

Atomos

Development

Space Tug, Orbital Transportation

Bellatrix Aerospace

Development

SpaceDrone

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Space Tug, Reusable Satellite, Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

BlackStar Orbital Technologies

Early stage

Blue Ring

Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Persistent Platform, Space Tug, Robotic Space Station, In-Space Logistics, Space Logistics Platform, In-Orbit Computing, In-Space Mobility

Blue Origin

Development

Square Rocket

Resources - Asteroid Mining, Microgravity Workspaces, Space Tug, Active Debris Removal (ADR)

Bradford Space (Deep Space Industries)

Development

Space Tug, Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Transport Service (LEO-Moon), In-Space Logistics

Cislunar Space Development Company

Dormant

ClearSpace-1

Active Debris Removal (ADR), Space Tug

ClearSpace

Development

Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Space Tug

Coactum

Development

Transport Service (LEO-Moon), ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), Space Tug, In-Space Logistics

Crow Industries

Concept

ION

Space Tug, In-Orbit Computing, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Orbital Transportation, In-Space Logistics

D-Orbit

Active

Active Debris Removal (ADR), Space Tug

Dark

Development

Deep Space Industries

Xplorer, Prospector-1

Resources - Asteroid Mining, Space Tug, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization)

Deep Space Industries

Dormant

Chimera

Space Tug, In-Space Logistics

Epic Aerospace

Development, Launched

Space Tug

EsferAtros

Early stage

Reliant

Space Tug

Exolaunch

Development

Space Tug

Space Tug, Orbital Transportation

Exos Aerospace

Dormant

SpaceVan, spacedrop

Space Tug, In-Space Logistics, Orbital Transportation

Exotrail

Demonstrated

Elytra, SUV (Space Utility Vehicle)

Space Tug, Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Orbital Transportation

Firefly Aerospace

Development

Space Tug, Transport Service (LEO-GEO)

GeoJump

Dormant

GTL

Hyperion

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Transport Service (LEO-Moon), Commercial Lander, Commercial Lunar Lander, Space Tug, Orbital Transportation

GTL (Gloyer-Taylor Laboratories)

Early stage

Helicity Drive

Resources - Energy, Space Tug, Nuclear Fusion Power, In-Space Logistics

Helicity Space

Early stage

Hyscab

Space Tug, Orbital Transportation

Hybrogines

Early stage

Mira, LEO Express

Space Tug, Commercial Lander, Commercial Mars Lander

Impulse Space Propulsion

Demonstrated

Phoenix Orbital Transfer Vehicle

In-Space Manufacturing, Orbital Transportation, Space Tug, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)

Infinity Space

Early stage

ARCap Module

On-Orbit Servicing, Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Active Debris Removal (ADR), In-Orbit Inspection, Space Tug, Hardware, Docking

Kurs Orbital

Development

Orbiter

Space Tug, Transport Service (Earth-LEO)

Launcher (Vast)

Active, Discontinued, ?

Motus

Space Tug, Orbital Transportation

Liftero (Progesja Space)

Development

Space Tug, In-Space Communications Relay, Transport Service (LEO-Moon)

Lunar Ascent

Early stage

VIA

Space Tug, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Orbital Transportation, Hardware, Software

Lunasa Space (Lúnasa Space)

Development, Concept

Colibri

Space Tug

MaiaSpace

Development

Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle (OMV), SL-OMV

Space Tug, In-Space Logistics

Moog

Development

MOONPORT

Moon On-Orbit Nexus Providing Orbital Rendezvous and Transportation (MOONPORT)

Space Tug, On-Orbit Servicing, Transport Service (LEO-Moon)

MOONPORT

Concept

SUPREME

Hardware, Space Tug, In-Space Logistics

Neutron Star Systems

Development

Satko

Space Tug, On-Orbit Servicing, Active Debris Removal (ADR)

Orbital.Express

Development

Space Tug, In-Space Logistics

Parabilis Space Technologies

Concept

Space Truck

Space Tug, On-Orbit Servicing, In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Assembly, Transport Service (Re-Entry), Orbital Transportation

Plasmos

Cancelled, Development

Space Tug, Transport Service (LEO-GEO)

porkchop

Cancelled

Photon

Space Tug

Rocket Lab

Demonstrated

IOSHEXA

Space Tug, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Active Debris Removal (ADR)

SAB Launch Services

Development

AstroLab

Space Tug, Active Debris Removal (ADR), On-Orbit Servicing, In-Space Logistics

Scout Aerospace

Early stage

Meteoroid Complementary Descent Module, ASTREO

Space Tug, Transport Service (Re-Entry), In-Space Logistics

Sidereus Space Dynamics

Concept

Orbital Logistics Vehicle (OLV)

In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Assembly, Space Tug, Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Lunar Electric Grid

Skycorp

Development

Space Tug

Space Tug, Transport Service (LEO-GEO)

Skyrora

Development

Space Tug

SmallSpark Space Systems

Concept

S4-SLV

Transport Service (LEO-Moon), Space Tug, Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Orbital Transportation

SmalSspark Space Systems

Concept

Modular Transport System (MTS)

Space Tug, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Transport Service (LEO-Moon)

Space Castle Solutions

Concept

Commercial Space Station, Space Tug, Space Tourism Activities, Space Solar Power

Space Island Group

Dormant

Longbow

Space Tug, In-Space Logistics, Mass Driver

Space Kinetic

Early stage

OT-S, Optimus-1

Space Tug, In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Logistics, Transport Service (LEO-GEO), In-Space Mobility, Active Debris Removal (ADR), In-Space Assembly

Space Machines Company

Development

Smart Drone

Space Tug, Orbital Transportation, On-Orbit Servicing, Active Debris Removal (ADR), Robotic Arm

SpaceDrone

Early stage

SHERPA

Space Tug, In-Space Logistics

Spaceflight (firefly)

Cancelled, Acquired, Active, ?

Black Bay

Space Tug, Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Orbital Transportation, Propellant Refilling, Propellant Refuel Station, Reusable Satellite

SpaceRyde

Dormant, Bankrupt

Space Tug, In-Space Logistics, Active Debris Removal (ADR)

SpaceTug (Hyoristic Innovations)

Early stage

STRANNIK-1, STRANNIK-2

Space Tug, Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Transport Service (LEO-Moon)

SR Space (Success Rockets)

Cancelled

Otter

Space Tug, On-Orbit Servicing, Satellite Life Extension, Active Debris Removal (ADR), Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Hardware

Starfish Space

Development, Launched

Start, Cis-Lunar Transfer Vehicle (CLTV), IMAGIN-e

Space Tug, On-Orbit Servicing, Propellant Refilling, Propellant Refuel Station, In-Orbit Computing

Thales Alenia Space

Development

ThinkPlatform-1

Commercial Space Station, Space Construction Company, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), On-Orbit Servicing, Space Tug

ThinkOrbital (Think Orbital)

Development

Worker Bee, Sutter Space Telescope

Space Tug, Space Situational Awareness (SSA), Resources - Asteroid Mining, Propellant Refuel Station, Space Mining, In-Space Manufacturing, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), Propellant Refilling, Active Debris Removal (ADR)

TransAstra (Trans Astronautics Corporation)

Development

LOLA, LUCAS, OSSIE

Transport Service (LEO-Moon), Commercial Lunar Lander, Space Tug, In-Space Logistics

UARX

Early stage, Development

ULA

ACES

Transport Service (LEO-Moon), Commercial Lunar Lander, Space Tug, In-Space Logistics

ULA (United Launch Alliance)

Concept

XCRAFT

Space Tug, In-Space Logistics, Beyond-LEO Remote Sensing

Xplore

Development, Concept, ?

Quark

Space Tug, In-Space Logistics, Resources - Energy, On-Orbit Servicing, Propellant Refuel Station, Propellant Refilling

Atomos

Development

Blue Ring

Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Persistent Platform, Space Tug, Robotic Space Station, In-Space Logistics, Space Logistics Platform, In-Orbit Computing, In-Space Mobility

Blue Origin

Development

Space Tug, Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Transport Service (LEO-Moon), In-Space Logistics

Cislunar Space Development Company

Dormant

Transport Service (LEO-Moon), ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), Space Tug, In-Space Logistics

Crow Industries

Concept

ION

Space Tug, In-Orbit Computing, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Orbital Transportation, In-Space Logistics

D-Orbit

Active

Chimera

Space Tug, In-Space Logistics

Epic Aerospace

Development, Launched

SpaceVan, spacedrop

Space Tug, In-Space Logistics, Orbital Transportation

Exotrail

Demonstrated

Helicity Drive

Resources - Energy, Space Tug, Nuclear Fusion Power, In-Space Logistics

Helicity Space

Early stage

Lunar Logistics Services

Launch Service Brokerer, Marketplace / Store, In-Space Logistics, Cislunar Space Logistics

Lunar Logistics Services (LLS)

Active

Implement Space Product

In-Space Logistics

Lunargistics

Cancelled

Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle (OMV), SL-OMV

Space Tug, In-Space Logistics

Moog

Development

SUPREME

Hardware, Space Tug, In-Space Logistics

Neutron Star Systems

Development

Space Tug, In-Space Logistics

Parabilis Space Technologies

Concept

Ranger

Transport Service (LEO-Moon), In-Space Communications Relay, In-Space Manufacturing, On-Orbit Servicing, In-Orbit Inspection, Beyond-LEO Remote Sensing, In-Space Logistics, Transport Service (LEO-GEO)

Quantum Space

Development

AstroLab

Space Tug, Active Debris Removal (ADR), On-Orbit Servicing, In-Space Logistics

Scout Aerospace

Early stage

Meteoroid Complementary Descent Module, ASTREO

Space Tug, Transport Service (Re-Entry), In-Space Logistics

Sidereus Space Dynamics

Concept

Longbow

Space Tug, In-Space Logistics, Mass Driver

Space Kinetic

Early stage

OT-S, Optimus-1

Space Tug, In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Logistics, Transport Service (LEO-GEO), In-Space Mobility, Active Debris Removal (ADR), In-Space Assembly

Space Machines Company

Development

SHERPA

Space Tug, In-Space Logistics

Spaceflight (firefly)

Cancelled, Acquired, Active, ?

Space Tug, In-Space Logistics, Active Debris Removal (ADR)

SpaceTug (Hyoristic Innovations)

Early stage

LOLA, LUCAS, OSSIE

Transport Service (LEO-Moon), Commercial Lunar Lander, Space Tug, In-Space Logistics

UARX

Early stage, Development

ULA

ACES

Transport Service (LEO-Moon), Commercial Lunar Lander, Space Tug, In-Space Logistics

ULA (United Launch Alliance)

Concept

XCRAFT

Space Tug, In-Space Logistics, Beyond-LEO Remote Sensing

Xplore

Development, Concept, ?