Momentus Space: Powering In-Space Transportation and Infrastructure Services

Momentus Space: Powering In-Space Transportation and Infrastructure Services

Founded in 2017, Momentus Space is a U.S. commercial space company headquartered in San Jose, California. The company's core mission is to offer in-space infrastructure services, including satellite buses, in-space transportation, hosted payloads, and other in-orbit services.

Momentus focuses on providing cost-effective solutions for satellite deployment and orbital transfer, utilizing its proprietary Vigoride Orbital Service Vehicle (OSV). This vehicle is designed to transport satellites to their designated orbits and offers hosted payload capabilities. The company has established notable partnerships and affiliations within the space industry. NASA selected Momentus to provide launch services for future agency missions through its Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) contract. Additionally, Momentus has collaborated with private space firms such as SpaceX, signing contracts to reserve ports on multiple SpaceX Transporter missions. The company has also entered into agreements with organizations like Lodestar Space for integrating robotic arms onto its Vigoride OSV and with Solstar Space to demonstrate on-orbit Wi-Fi connectivity.

Momentus has secured patents that underscore its commitment to innovation:

  • Pierced Waveguide Thruster: This patent describes a propulsion system where a microwave energy source heats propellant in a chamber that traverses a waveguide, enhancing efficiency.

  • Space Mission Energy Management Architecture: This patent outlines a spacecraft propulsion system comprising two thrusters operating according to different propulsion techniques, with a controller directing collected solar energy to heat a propellant for one thruster or to generate electric energy for the other.

Momentus offers in-space infrastructure services to support satellite operators, researchers, and commercial space enterprises. The Vigoride Orbital Service Vehicle (OSV) provides in-space transportation, delivering satellites to their specific orbits and offering hosted payload services. It also supplies satellite buses equipped with essential systems such as power, propulsion, and communication, facilitating rapid deployment for satellite operators. Momentus also offers platforms for hosting payloads in orbit, enabling clients to test technologies or conduct research without the need to develop standalone satellites. Momentus also explores services like in-orbit assembly and maintenance, aiming to support the construction and upkeep of large-scale structures in space.

Momentus is contracted to deploy two satellites for NASA's Low-Latitude Ionosphere/Thermosphere Enhancements in Density (LLITED) mission. The company is collaborating with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) on the Novel Orbital and Moon Manufacturing, Materials, and Mass-efficient Design (NOM4D) program. Momentus also has agreements with companies like SatRev and RIDE! Space to provide orbital delivery services.

Momentus aims to revolutionize in-space transportation and infrastructure services by focusing on cost-effective and sustainable solutions. The company's emphasis on water-based propulsion systems and in-orbit services positions it to play a significant role in the evolving space economy. By facilitating more accessible and efficient satellite deployment and maintenance, Momentus contributes to the broader goal of making space operations more sustainable and commercially viable. 

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Publisher: SatNow

Momentus

  • Country: United States
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GNSS Constellations - A list of all GNSS satellites by constellations

beidou

Satellite NameOrbit Date
BeiDou-3 G4Geostationary Orbit (GEO)17 May, 2023
BeiDou-3 G2Geostationary Orbit (GEO)09 Mar, 2020
Compass-IGSO7Inclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)09 Feb, 2020
BeiDou-3 M19Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)16 Dec, 2019
BeiDou-3 M20Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)16 Dec, 2019
BeiDou-3 M21Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)23 Nov, 2019
BeiDou-3 M22Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)23 Nov, 2019
BeiDou-3 I3Inclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)04 Nov, 2019
BeiDou-3 M23Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)22 Sep, 2019
BeiDou-3 M24Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)22 Sep, 2019

galileo

Satellite NameOrbit Date
GSAT0223MEO - Near-Circular05 Dec, 2021
GSAT0224MEO - Near-Circular05 Dec, 2021
GSAT0219MEO - Near-Circular25 Jul, 2018
GSAT0220MEO - Near-Circular25 Jul, 2018
GSAT0221MEO - Near-Circular25 Jul, 2018
GSAT0222MEO - Near-Circular25 Jul, 2018
GSAT0215MEO - Near-Circular12 Dec, 2017
GSAT0216MEO - Near-Circular12 Dec, 2017
GSAT0217MEO - Near-Circular12 Dec, 2017
GSAT0218MEO - Near-Circular12 Dec, 2017

glonass

Satellite NameOrbit Date
Kosmos 2569--07 Aug, 2023
Kosmos 2564--28 Nov, 2022
Kosmos 2559--10 Oct, 2022
Kosmos 2557--07 Jul, 2022
Kosmos 2547--25 Oct, 2020
Kosmos 2545--16 Mar, 2020
Kosmos 2544--11 Dec, 2019
Kosmos 2534--27 May, 2019
Kosmos 2529--03 Nov, 2018
Kosmos 2527--16 Jun, 2018

gps

Satellite NameOrbit Date
Navstar 82Medium Earth Orbit19 Jan, 2023
Navstar 81Medium Earth Orbit17 Jun, 2021
Navstar 78Medium Earth Orbit22 Aug, 2019
Navstar 77Medium Earth Orbit23 Dec, 2018
Navstar 76Medium Earth Orbit05 Feb, 2016
Navstar 75Medium Earth Orbit31 Oct, 2015
Navstar 74Medium Earth Orbit15 Jul, 2015
Navstar 73Medium Earth Orbit25 Mar, 2015
Navstar 72Medium Earth Orbit29 Oct, 2014
Navstar 71Medium Earth Orbit02 Aug, 2014

irnss

Satellite NameOrbit Date
NVS-01Geostationary Orbit (GEO)29 May, 2023
IRNSS-1IInclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)12 Apr, 2018
IRNSS-1HSub Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (Sub-GTO)31 Aug, 2017
IRNSS-1GGeostationary Orbit (GEO)28 Apr, 2016
IRNSS-1FGeostationary Orbit (GEO)10 Mar, 2016
IRNSS-1EGeosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)20 Jan, 2016
IRNSS-1DInclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)28 Mar, 2015
IRNSS-1CGeostationary Orbit (GEO)16 Oct, 2014
IRNSS-1BInclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)04 Apr, 2014
IRNSS-1AInclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)01 Jul, 2013
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