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]

Vigoride

Function	Space tug
Manufacturer	Momentus space
Country of origin	United States
Capacity
Payload to low Earth orbit
Mass	750 kg (1,650 lb)
Launch history
Status	Operational
Total launches	3
Success(es)	2

Missions

Past missions

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

Upcoming missions

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