Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised May 31, 2026

Vigoride

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

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May 31, 2026
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Vigoride
FunctionSpace tug
ManufacturerMomentus space
Country of originUnited States
Capacity
Payload to low Earth orbit
Mass750 kg (1,650 lb)
Launch history
StatusOperational
Total launches3
Success(es)2

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.23 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 SelfieSat10 Orbit NTNU Partial failure
United States Veery-FS111 Care Weather
Spain FOSSASAT-2E x7 FOSSA Systems
(third party port)1213 United States BRONCOSAT-114 Cal Poly Pomona Success
Demo 2 (Proximus Gradus) Vigoride-5 3 January 2023 United States Falcon 9 Block 5 Singapore ZEUS-11516 Qosmosys / NuSpace Success
United States SSPD-1 (hosted)17 Caltech
Tertio In Orbita Vigoride-618 15 April 2023 United States Falcon 9 Block 5 Denmark DISCO-119 Aarhus University Success
Taiwan IRIS-C NCKU
United States LLITED-A NASA20
United States LLITED-B
Italy REVELA2122 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 Failure24
South Korea Jinjusat-125 Contec Co.
Poland Oman STORK-7 / AMAN-1 SatRevolution
Turkey Hello Test 126 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 NOM4D28 DARPA
United States RPO Demo29 AFRL
United States Deke Space Communicator30 Solstar Space
Delayed or Unassigned Payloads NET 2025 TBA Denmark DISCO-231 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 × 933 Apogeo Space
Spain CLIP+ [FP002] FOSSA Systems
United States Crypto-3A Cryptosat
Luxembourg Triton-X (hosted)3435 LuxSpace
Senegal Gaindesat36 Ride! Space
Djibouti Djibouti36
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 Satellites38 C3S
References

References

  1. "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. Archived from the original on 2021-01-25. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  11. "Veery-FS1 FCC Narrative Description (REV A)". Archived from the original on 2021-11-12. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
  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. "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. "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".