**Impulse Space Secures $150 Million to Advance Orbital Transfer Vehicles**

Impulse Space, a startup based in Los Angeles and headed by esteemed rocket engineer Tom Mueller, has successfully raised $150 million in a fresh investment round led by Founders Fund. The new funding will help the company accelerate the development and production of its orbital transfer vehicles (OTVs), commonly known as "space tugs." Presently, Impulse is focused on two main OTVs: the smaller Mira and the larger Helios.

Mueller, who founded Impulse after nearly two decades at SpaceX developing rocket engines for Elon Musk, expressed confidence in the company's future following this significant financial boost. "This means that we're sufficiently funded through the development of Helios and the upgraded version Mira and out past the first flights of both of these products," Mueller told CNBC.

Impulse experienced a milestone over the past year with their inaugural mission, LEO Express-1. The mission saw a Mira vehicle deploy a small satellite, achieving what Mueller described as "probably the most successful orbital transfer vehicle debut in history." With a backlog of contracts from commercial, government customers, and collaboration with the U.S. Space Force, the company's next mission, LEO Express-2, is slated to launch later this year.

Notably, the $150 million round saw participation from a broad spectrum of investors including Airbus Ventures, Alumni Ventures, Balerion Space Ventures, Lux Capital, RTX Ventures, Spring Tide, Tamarack Global, 137 Ventures, DCVC, Elysium, First Principles Group, Island Green, Overmatch, and Trousdale Ventures. This funding round pushes Impulse's total fundraising to $225 million to date.

Looking ahead, Impulse plans to launch an updated Mira vehicle by late 2025 and conduct a demo mission with Helios by mid-2026. By 2027, the company aims to debut its "GEO Rideshare" missions. Impulse hopes to offer reliable in-space delivery systems as an increasing number of reusable rockets from companies like Rocket Lab, Blue Origin, and Relativity are set to emerge.

Currently employing around 140 individuals, Impulse intends to expand its workforce to more than 200 by next year to ramp up the production of Mira and Helios vehicles. The company's 60,000-square-foot facility in Redondo Beach, California, accommodates design, manufacturing, assembly, and engine test firing tasks. Mueller believes this facility can support the annual production of at least ten Mira spacecrafts without further expansion at the moment.

"It's head down and make progress now," Mueller concluded, emphasizing his commitment to moving the company forward with the new funds secured.