Robot model
Helios
High-energy kick stage designed for direct GEO insertion from LEO.
- Manufacturer
- Impulse Space
- Form factor
- space
- Maturity
- pilot
- Lifecycle
- active
- Deployments
- 1
The verified answer
As of Oct 2026, DEPLOY verifies Helios, a space by Impulse Space (pilot): 1 verified deployment on record. 2 sources back the record.
Overview
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).
Verified vs. claimed
- Maturity stage
- pilot(Small-scale deployment in controlled or trial conditions.)
- Sources on file
- View all sources →
Key facts
Diameter
Payload
Propulsion
Autonomy level
Production target
Specs
Dof
Role
Payload
Runtime
Autonomy
Diameter
Height cm
Max speed
Weight kg
Propulsion
To scale
Data & sources
Web sources
2
2 sources backing this record.View all →
Autonomy: verified vs claimed
- What it actually does
- Autonomous
Pricing
No verified price is on record for Helios. Physical-AI systems are often sold through enterprise contracts or operated as a service rather than at a public list price.
Deployments (1)
- Helios at Geostationary Orbit (GEO)announced
SES has signed a multi-launch agreement with Impulse Space for Helios transport services, with Helios positioned in geostationary orbit.
Helios on the deployment map
View the global mapWhere Helios is verified operating. Explore the deployment map by place and type.
Recent activity
Every change to this record is dated, sourced, and independently verified where marked.
- Verified media addedVerifiedJun 7, 2026
Hello, Solar System!
- Record createdJun 7, 2026
Added to the verified registry
- Deployment verifiedVerifiedJun 1, 2025
at Geostationary Orbit (GEO)
Safety record
No incidents on record for Helios.
Only active incidents are counted. Retracted incidents are excluded from this summary but remain reachable at their canonical URLs.
Sources (2)
Common questions
What is Helios?
How much does Helios cost?
Is Helios actually deployed in the real world?
What are the specs of Helios?
Who makes Helios?
Where is Helios deployed?
Can you buy Helios?
What are alternatives to Helios?
How does Helios compare to Chang'e Lander?
Is Helios a top space?
What is Helios's maturity stage?
Is Helios safe?
What is the HELIOS solar panel cleaning robot?
Methodology: Verified · 2 sources (no primary) · last reviewed 2026-07-22
Verification posture
Verified
Low confidence
Review state
Stable
Last reviewed 2026-07-22
Maturity + lifecycle
Maturity stage: pilot
Lifecycle: active
Architectural position
Cohort: space
Sources by quality tier
- 2
- unclassified
- Unclassified source
The framework is documented at /methodology. Corrections at /corrections. Reviewer: DEPLOY editorial team.
Methodology surface for Helios.Recent coverage
Helios in third-party press
Attention vs reality over time
Media mentions per month (area) against verified deployment events (dots). A press spike over a flat deployment line is the hype gap, drawn over time.
In the press
Recent coverage mentioning Helios from third-party publications. Automatically surfaced; not part of the verified registry record.
Impulse Space raises $500 million to build a fleet of space tugs that move satellites where rockets cannot
Unlocking 'the true space age': Impulse Space raises $500 million to build out fleet of ultra-mobile spacecraft
Impulse Space expands Colorado presence
Impulse Space Raises $500M Series D to Build In-Space Mobility Infrastructure for the Space Economy
Impulse Space raised $500M in Series D funding co-led by 137 Ventures and BANNER VC, bringing total capital to over $1B, to build in-space mobility infrastructure for the growing…
A new private moon lander rises: Impulse Space throws its hat into the lunar ring
SpaceX Veteran Lays Out Impulse Space's Roadmap for Making Deliveries to the Moon
Impulse Space details plan to deliver up to 6 tons a year to the moon
Impulse Space Plans Lunar Lander for Lunar Cargo Delivery
Anduril and Impulse Space Plan to Run RPO in Geosynchronous Orbit Next Year
US plans maneuverable defense satellite amid China space gains
Same-day delivery comes to space, as Impulse promises satellite transport in hours, not months
Impulse Space secures three SpaceX Falcon 9 missions
Machine-readable surfaces
- Markdown mirror: /models/helios.md
- JSON-LD: embedded in this page’s head
- REST API: /v1/models/29eaa53c-0c80-4c11-bc35-5adf73c33116
- Revision history: /models/helios/history
- Data documentation: /data
- Query this programmatically: Deploy MCP
Reality vs attention
Helios draws attention at the 62nd percentile but verifies reality at the 35th percentile among space robots. Hype Gap +26.7, 16th widest among space robots.
6-month trend
Analysis
Thin deployment record; scale validation still in progress.
Dimension breakdown
Verified signal
Attention (reach, not merit)
DEPLOY Intelligence scores are computed from verified registry data: confirmed deployments, disclosed funding rounds, regulatory filings, active job listings, video viewership, and press coverage. Confidence ratings reflect data availability. Scores update nightly.
DEPLOY Indices — verified vs claimed
Last computed: Oct 21, 2026