LEO Express 3 Mission Updates
Mission Overview
LEO Express 3 marks the third flight for Mira, Impulse’s high-thrust, highly maneuverable spacecraft, and the first mission for the upgraded vehicle design. Building on the successful LEO Express 1 and 2 missions, LEO Express 3 will: validate Mira’s improved systems ahead of future missions (including GEO flights beginning in 2026); provide flight heritage for multiple avionics components for future Helios flights; and fulfill customer objectives.
With customer missions spanning hosted demos, non-Earth imaging (NEI), and CubeSat deployments, Mira is once again delivering advanced in-space mobility as a responsive, high delta-v platform.
Mission Objectives Include:
- Deploy Payloads: Deliver CubeSats from returning customer FOSSA Systems, using partner Exolaunch's EXOpod Nova deployment system, to target orbital destinations
- Host Payloads: Support long-term NEI operations by returning customer HEO’s Holmes Mk2 NEI camera, as well as demonstrations from Samara Aerospace (the Cicada hardware, to validate MSAC technology) and Zenno Astronautics (the Supertorquer, a superconducting actuator generating strong magnetic fields)
- Deploy and Actuate Gimbaled Solar Arrays: Operate Mira’s new deployable, gimbaled solar arrays, which increase available onboard power for hosted missions
- Operate Reaction Wheels: Exercise precise attitude control with Mira’s new onboard reaction wheels
- Validate Helios Avionics Components: Flight testing for future Helios subsystems, including IMU, batteries, and radios
- Demonstrate Upgraded Propulsion Capabilities: Validate upper bounds of performance for the upgraded Mira’s propulsion systems, which offer a 25% increase in delta-v over prior versions
With the LEO Express 3 mission, Mira is advancing in-space mobility for our customers and pushing the bounds of what’s possible for the space economy. It's just one of the ways we’re working to accelerate our future beyond Earth.
Stay tuned for mission updates here and on LinkedIn, X, and Instagram.
Meet the Mission Patch
Meet the official mission patch for LEO Express 3. The patch features Mira’s new, upgraded design, with the deployable, gimbaled solar arrays prominently displayed. The payload bay showcases both hosted customer payloads and a CubeSat that’s just been released — a nod to the customer missions for LEO Express 3.
Look closely and you’ll notice a few more details, like the three orbital arcs representing LEO, MEO, and GEO. This reflects one of LEO Express 3’s objectives: to serve as a bridge between operations in LEO, where Mira has flown to-date, and future flights in GEO+, beginning in 2026. By validating key subsystems and components, this mission will provide flight testing and heritage in preparation for operations in higher energy orbits for both Mira and Helios.
In the background, the dot-work graphic alludes to the appearance of the Milky Way from Earth. But take another glance: it's the outline of California, where Impulse’s headquarters are located and where the company began four years ago.
