Helios
[pilot]space · food-service · 1 deployments in catalog
Manufacturer
Impulse SpaceForm Factor
space
Lifecycle
pilot
Operational Reality
Autonomous
Deployments
1
Target Price
Custom Quote
- PILOT
Description
High-energy kick stage designed for direct GEO insertion from LEO. 3.5 m diameter. Primary engine: Deneb (67 kN LOX/methane, ox-rich staged combustion, 380+ s Isp). Payload capacity ~4,000 kg. First flight targeted 2026 (Falcon 9, with two Mira vehicles). First commercial customer: SES (multi-launch agreement, first mission 2027).
Key facts & specs
- website
- https://www.ses.com/press-release/ses-signs-multi-launch-agreement-helios-transport-services-impulse-space
- maturity
- pilot
- lifecycle
- active
- form factor
- space
- manufacturer
- Impulse Space
- deployments count
- 1
- Maturity stage
- pilot
- Dof
- 28
- Role
- high-energy kick stage
- Payload
- ~4,000 kg to GEO
- Runtime
- 6 h
- Autonomy
- autonomous multi-burn GTO-to-GEO transfer
- Diameter
- 3.5 m
- Height cm
- 160
- Max speed
- 2 km/h
- Weight kg
- 190
- Propulsion
- Deneb (67 kN, LOX/methane, staged combustion)
- Autonomy level
- autonomous multi-burn GTO-to-GEO transfer
- Production target
- first flight targeted 2026
Autonomy: verified vs claimed
Autonomous
Independent audit: evaluates human teleoperation reliance, VR assistance, and vendor autonomy bounds.
Autonomous robotics system.
Safety record
No incidents on record for Helios.
FAQ
What is Helios?
High-energy kick stage designed for direct GEO insertion from LEO. 3.5 m diameter. Primary engine: Deneb (67 kN LOX/methane, ox-rich staged combustion, 380+ s Isp). Payload capacity ~4,000 kg. First flight targeted 2026 (Falcon 9, with two Mira vehicles). First commercial customer: SES (multi-launch agreement, first mission 2027).
Is Helios actually deployed in the real world?
Yes. Helios is independently verified in real-world operation on the DEPLOY registry, confirmed at named deployment sites with primary sources: not a concept, render, or demo-only.
What are the specs of Helios?
Helios's recorded specifications on the DEPLOY registry: Degrees of freedom: 28; Payload: ~4,000 kg to GEO; Runtime: 6 h; Height: 160 cm; Max speed: 2 km/h; Weight: 190 kg. See the Specs section for the full sourced set.
Who makes Helios?
Helios is made by Impulse Space, based in Redondo Beach, California, USA, founded in 2021.
Where is Helios deployed?
1 verified deployment of Helios is on the DEPLOY registry, including at Geostationary Orbit (GEO).
Can you buy Helios?
Helios is in pilot deployments with named customers and is not yet broadly for sale.
What are alternatives to Helios?
On the DEPLOY registry, comparable space robots to Helios include Chang'e Lander, Mira, W-Series Capsule, spacevan.
How does Helios compare to Chang'e Lander?
Helios and Chang'e Lander (China National Space Administration · 4 deployments) are both space robots on the DEPLOY registry. Helios has 1 verified deployment on record. Compare both records for specs, safety, deployments, and verified-vs-claimed autonomy.
Is Helios a top space?
On DEPLOY's intelligence score, which blends verified deployments, safety, adoption, media, and IP signals, Helios ranks in roughly the top 36% of space models tracked by the registry.
What is Helios's maturity stage?
Helios is at the pilot stage on the DEPLOY maturity ladder (research, prototype, pilot, commercial, production). Pilot stage means at least one named-customer trial deployment is verified.
Is Helios safe?
Helios has no incidents on record in the DEPLOY registry. This does not constitute a safety guarantee; it reflects the incidents DEPLOY has tracked and verified to date.
What is the HELIOS solar panel cleaning robot?
HELIOS is an automated solar panel cleaning service using autonomous cleaning robots that are placed on solar panels using a drone. The system can clean up to 4,000 panels per day in a safe and efficient manner. Designed for utility-scale solar installations.