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Vigoride

Vigoride is a space tug developed and operated by Momentus Space.[1] The total payload capacity that it can support to LEO is 750 kg.[2][3] 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.[1] Momentus states that the cost is roughly $15,000 per kg depending on the exact customer specifications.[4] 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,[5] while the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission accused it of misleading investors.[6] 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.[7] 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.[8] On 25 May 2022, Momentus launched its first Vigoride spacecraft aboard SpaceX Transporter 5 mission.[9]

Missions

Past missions

Mission Name Spacecraft Date Launch Vehicle Payload Customer Outcome
Demo 1 Vigoride-3 25 May 2022 United States Falcon 9 Block 5 Norway SelfieSat[10] Orbit NTNU Partial failure
United States Veery-FS1[11] Care Weather
Spain FOSSASAT-2E x7 FOSSA Systems
(third party port)[12][13] United States BRONCOSAT-1[14] Cal Poly Pomona Success
Demo 2 (Proximus Gradus) Vigoride-5 3 January 2023 United States Falcon 9 Block 5 Singapore ZEUS-1[15][16] Qosmosys / NuSpace Success
United States SSPD-1 (hosted)[17] Caltech
Tertio In Orbita Vigoride-6[18] 15 April 2023 United States Falcon 9 Block 5 Denmark DISCO-1[19] Aarhus University Success
Taiwan IRIS-C NCKU
United States LLITED-A NASA[20]
United States LLITED-B
Italy REVELA[21][22] ARCA Dynamics
Hungary VIREO C3S
Italy SMPOD03 (hosted) ARCA Dynamics
United States TApe Spring Solar Array (TASSA) (hosted)[23] Momentus space
? ISIL deployer 11 November 2023 United States Falcon 9 Block 5 United States Gossamer Vendelinus (Picacho) Lunasonde Failure[24]
South Korea Jinjusat-1[25] Contec Co.
Poland Oman STORK-7 / AMAN-1 SatRevolution
Turkey Hello Test 1[26] Hello Space Success
Turkey Hello Test 2

Upcoming missions

Mission Name Date Launch Vehicle Payload Customer
Vigoride-7 (SpaceX Transporter 16)[27] NET February 2026 United States Falcon 9 Block 5 United States NOM4D[28] DARPA
United States RPO Demo[29] AFRL
United States Deke Space Communicator[30] Solstar Space
Delayed or Unassigned Payloads NET 2025 TBA Denmark DISCO-2[31] Aarhus University
Spain PocketPod Deployer (8p)[32] FOSSA Systems
Singapore ZEUS-2 Qosmosys / NuSpace
Turkey HelloPod Hello Space
United States OreSat0.5 Portland State University
Italy PiCo × 9[33] Apogeo Space
Spain CLIP+ [FP002] FOSSA Systems
United States Crypto-3A Cryptosat
Luxembourg Triton-X (hosted)[34][35] LuxSpace
Senegal Gaindesat[36] Ride! Space
Djibouti Djibouti[36]
Spain FOSSASAT FEROX x?[32] FOSSA Systems
United States Luxembourg Vigoride Robotic Arm Demo (Hosted Payload)[37] Redwire (Made In Space) / Momentus Space
Hungary Undisclosed Satellites[38] C3S

References

  1. ^ a b "Services". Momentus. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  2. ^ "Announcing Vigoride Extended". Momentus. 2019-04-24. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  3. ^ "Momentus signs in-space transportation pact". SpaceNews. 2019-02-06. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
  4. ^ "Investor Presentation December 2020" (PDF). p. 31. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  5. ^ "Investor Presentation December 2020" (PDF). pp. 20–21. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  6. ^ "United States of America Before the Securities and Exchange Commission" (PDF). www.sec.gov/litigation. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Momentus delays first Vigoride launch". SpaceNews. 2021-01-07. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  8. ^ Sheetz, Michael (2020-10-07). "Momentus to become the latest space stock with ticker 'MNTS,' valued at $1.2 billion in SPAC deal". CNBC. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  9. ^ "Momentus Launches First Demonstration Flight on SpaceX Falcon 9" (PDF).
  10. ^ "Announcing our latest service contract for Orbit NTNU". Momentus. 2021-01-07. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  11. ^ "Veery-FS1 FCC Narrative Description (REV A)".
  12. ^ "Momentus - Investor Presentation".
  13. ^ "Transporter 5".
  14. ^ "APPLICATION FOR SPECIAL TEMPORARY AUTHORITY" (PDF).
  15. ^ "Our latest service agreement for Singapore's Qosmosys". Momentus. 2021-01-21. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
  16. ^ "QONN8Q - A new way to experience space!". QONN8Q. Retrieved 2021-09-02.
  17. ^ "Momentus Lands Caltech Mission for its New Hosted Payload Service - Via Satellite -". Via Satellite. 2020-12-15. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  18. ^ "Momentus Signs Launch Services Agreements With SpaceX". Momentus. 7 April 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  19. ^ "Momentus Announces 2022 Launch Services Agreement With Danish Students CubeSat Program". The Daily Times. Retrieved 2021-08-12.
  20. ^ "Momentus to Deploy Satellites in Custom Orbit for NASA LLITED Mission".
  21. ^ "Our Work with Astrogate Labs and ARCA Dynamics". Momentus. 2020-08-11. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  22. ^ "Momentus Inc. VR-2 U". March 29, 2021.
  23. ^ "Momentus: Celebrating a Year of Progress with More to Come in 2023".
  24. ^ "Momentus Mission Update". BusinessWire. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  25. ^ "Momentus to Fly JINJUSat-1 for CONTEC Co".
  26. ^ "Momentus Customers Integrated and Shipped to SpaceX Launch Site".
  27. ^ "Momentus to Deploy Defense Department and Commercial Payloads on Rideshare Mission with SpaceX in 2026".
  28. ^ "Momentus Awarded Expansion of Defense Department Contract For Assembly of Large Structures in Space".
  29. ^ "Momentus Selected by U.S. Air Force for Space Demonstration of Rendezvous Using Low-Cost Multi-Spectral Sensor Suite".
  30. ^ "Momentus and Solstar Space Announce Strategic Partnership for On-Demand Communication for Space Systems".
  31. ^ "Momentus to Provide Delivery Service for Aarhus University Payload".
  32. ^ a b "Momentus to Deliver FOSSA Systems Next-Generation Satellites to Orbit".
  33. ^ Rainbow, Jason (6 June 2023). "Apogeo Space orders second space tug for connectivity constellation". SpaceNews. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  34. ^ "Momentus Announces Service Agreement for Hosted Payload with LuxSpace".
  35. ^ "Triton-X".
  36. ^ a b "Momentus to Provide Delivery Service for RIDE! Space".
  37. ^ "Made In Space Europe and Momentus plan robotic spacecraft". SpaceNews. 2020-09-02. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  38. ^ "Momentus Signs Contract for Orbital Delivery Services with C3S".