DEPLOYDatabase

Robot model

Rigel

spaceresearchby Impulse Space

180 lbf (~800 N) bipropellant engine in development for Mars lander propulsive descent.

Track Rigel
Manufacturer
Impulse Space
Form factor
space
Maturity
research
Lifecycle
active

The verified answer

As of Sep 2026, DEPLOY verifies Rigel, a space by Impulse Space (research). 1 source back the record.

Overview

180 lbf (~800 N) bipropellant engine in development for Mars lander propulsive descent. Tested at Mojave Air and Space Port. Will perform powered landing on Mars for the joint Impulse/Relativity mission.

Verified vs. claimed

Maturity stage
research(Lab-stage only; no commercial or public deployment reported.)
Sources on file
View all sources →

No verified deployments on file. DEPLOY tracks independently-sourced deployment evidence separately from manufacturer capability claims.

Key facts

Thrust

~800 N (180 lbf)

Propellant

N2O / ethane (inferred)

Status

development / test

Role

Mars lander descent engine

Specs

Role

Mars lander descent engine

Status

development / test

Thrust

~800 N (180 lbf)

Autonomy

n/a (component)

Propellant

N2O / ethane (inferred)

Data & sources

Web sources

1

1 source backing this record.View all →

Pricing

No verified price is on record for Rigel. Physical-AI systems are often sold through enterprise contracts or operated as a service rather than at a public list price.

How DEPLOY tracks pricing

Recent activity

Every change to this record is dated, sourced, and independently verified where marked.

Full change history →

Safety record

No incidents on record for Rigel.

Only active incidents are counted. Retracted incidents are excluded from this summary but remain reachable at their canonical URLs.

Sources (1)

  1. https://spacenews.com/impulse-and-relativity-target-2026-for-launch-of-first-mars-lander-mission/

Common questions

What is Rigel?
180 lbf (~800 N) bipropellant engine in development for Mars lander propulsive descent. Tested at Mojave Air and Space Port. Will perform powered landing on Mars for the joint Impulse/Relativity mission.
How much does Rigel cost?
Rigel's price is not publicly disclosed. DEPLOY has no verified price on record for Rigel from Impulse Space. Physical-AI systems like this are often sold through enterprise contracts or operated as a service rather than at a public list price; check the manufacturer for the latest.
Is Rigel actually deployed in the real world?
Rigel is at the research stage: it exists, but DEPLOY has no verified real-world deployment on record. Manufacturer capability claims should be read as claims pending independent verification.
Who makes Rigel?
Rigel is made by Impulse Space, based in Redondo Beach, California, USA, founded in 2021.
Can you buy Rigel?
Rigel is at research stage and is not yet available for sale.
What are alternatives to Rigel?
On the DEPLOY registry, comparable space robots to Rigel include Chang'e Lander, Mira, W-Series Capsule, spacevan.
How does Rigel compare to Chang'e Lander?
Rigel and Chang'e Lander (China National Space Administration · 4 deployments) are both space robots on the DEPLOY registry. Rigel has 0 verified deployments on record. Compare both records for specs, safety, deployments, and verified-vs-claimed autonomy.
Is Rigel a top space?
On DEPLOY's intelligence score, which blends verified deployments, safety, adoption, media, and IP signals, Rigel ranks in roughly the top 78% of space models tracked by the registry.
What is Rigel's maturity stage?
Rigel is at the research stage on the DEPLOY maturity ladder (research, prototype, pilot, commercial, production). Research stage means active development without commercial deployments on file.
Where is Rigel deployed?
No verified deployments of Rigel are currently on the DEPLOY registry. DEPLOY records deployments only when verified at a named site with a primary source; absence may reflect pre-deployment, research, or manufacturer-internal use.
Is Rigel safe?
Rigel 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.
Methodology: Verified · 1 source (no primary) · last reviewed 2026-07-12

Verification posture

Verified

Low confidence

Review state

Stable

Last reviewed 2026-07-12

Maturity + lifecycle

Maturity stage: research

Lifecycle: active

Architectural position

Cohort: space

Sources by quality tier

1
unclassified
Unclassified source

The framework is documented at /methodology. Corrections at /corrections. Reviewer: DEPLOY editorial team.

Methodology surface for Rigel.

Recent coverage

Rigel in third-party press

Lockheed Martin wins $73.9M deal for Saudi warship radar

Aug 18, 2026

Impulse Space Raises $500M Series D to Build In-Space Mobility Infrastructure for the Space Economy

Jan 1, 2026

SpaceX founding employee successfully moves from rockets to in-space propulsion - Ars Technica

Nov 13, 2023