Helios
Overview
High-energy kick stage powered by a single Deneb methalox engine, designed to take payloads from a medium-lift rocket's low Earth orbit drop-off to GEO, translunar injection, or Earth escape without waiting months on electric propulsion.
Not yet flown. Impulse's first Helios missions, including the Space Force's VICTUS SURGO mission and the debut Caravan 1 GEO rideshare flight (now fully booked), are targeted for the first half of 2027. Commercial anchor customers already booked on Helios/Caravan include SES (a 4-ton-class satellite direct to GEO in under 8 hours), Astranis (MicroGEO satellites direct-injected to GEO), and Infinite Orbits (at least three servicing/inspection spacecraft starting in 2027). It is designed to be compatible with Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, Starship, New Glenn, and Vulcan.