Momentus’ Vigoride Spacecraft Arrives at SpaceX Launch Site for Second Demonstration Mission

Rhea-AI Summary

Momentus Inc. (NASDAQ: MNTS) announced the arrival of its Vigoride Orbital Service Vehicle (OSV) at Cape Canaveral for its second demonstration mission set for December aboard the SpaceX Transporter-6. The mission will host a customer payload for Caltech and deliver a CubeSat for Qosmosys. Enhanced features of this next-gen Vigoride include a modular payload bay and a Microwave Electrothermal Thruster powered by water, aiming for safer, more efficient operations in space. CEO John Rood expressed confidence in the vehicle's improvements following learnings from its first mission in May.

Positive

• Successful arrival of Vigoride OSV at Cape Canaveral for its second mission.
• Next-generation Vigoride includes technological enhancements like a modular payload bay for longer missions.
• Increased confidence in Vigoride's performance based on improvements made after the first mission.

Negative

• None.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Momentus Inc. (NASDAQ: MNTS) ("Momentus" or the "Company"), a U.S. commercial space company that offers transportation and other in-space infrastructure services, today announced that its Vigoride Orbital Service Vehicle (OSV) arrived at Cape Canaveral, Florida, for its second demonstration mission targeted to launch aboard the SpaceX Transporter-6 mission in December.

The Vigoride OSV will undergo final flight preparations and be integrated with the Falcon 9 launch vehicle over the coming weeks. The priorities of this mission include hosting a customer payload for Caltech, delivering a CubeSat to orbit for Qosmosys, and testing Vigoride’s performance in space.

“We learned a lot during our first Vigoride mission in May, and we applied those lessons and made enhancements to our integration and testing processes, and improvements to the vehicle,” said Momentus Chief Executive Officer John Rood. “We have higher confidence going into our second mission, and we look forward to sending our second OSV to orbit soon.”

The Vigoride OSV flying in December is a next-generation configuration. It includes improvements such as a modular payload bay that allows the Company to swap customer payload capability for additional propellant to enable longer duration missions, a more efficient structural design, and enhanced payload-hosting capabilities.

The Microwave Electrothermal Thruster on this Vigoride is also a next-generation system. The MET uses water as a propellant and produces thrust by expelling very hot gases through a rocket nozzle. However, unlike a conventional chemical rocket engine, which creates heat through a chemical reaction, the MET heats propellant using microwave energy. The non-toxic water propellant enables simpler, safer, and less expensive operations on Earth, and more sustainable in-space services.

About Momentus

Momentus is a U.S. commercial space company that offers in-space infrastructure services, including in-space transportation, hosted payloads and in-orbit services. Momentus believes it can make new ways of operating in space possible with its in-space transfer and service vehicles that will be powered by an innovative water plasma-based propulsion system that is under development.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain statements which may constitute “forward-looking statements” for purposes of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Momentus’ or its management team’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding future events or circumstances, and are not guarantees of future performance. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of Momentus’ control. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to risks and uncertainties included under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the Company on March 9, 2022, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and the Investor Relations section of our website at investors.momentus.space. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and, except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221116006070/en/

Investors

Darryl Genovesi at investors@momentus.space

Media

Jessica Pieczonka at press@momentus.space

Source: Momentus Inc.

FAQ

What is the purpose of Momentus Inc.'s Vigoride Orbital Service Vehicle (OSV)?

The Vigoride OSV is designed for transportation and in-space infrastructure services, including hosting customer payloads and testing its performance in space.

When is Momentus Inc. launching its Vigoride OSV?

Momentus Inc. is set to launch its Vigoride OSV aboard SpaceX's Transporter-6 mission in December.

What improvements were made to the Vigoride OSV for its second mission?

Enhancements include a modular payload bay for extended missions and a next-generation Microwave Electrothermal Thruster using water as a propellant.

Who is providing the payload for the Vigoride's second mission?

The Vigoride's second mission will host a customer payload for Caltech and deliver a CubeSat for Qosmosys.

What has Momentus Inc. learned from its first Vigoride mission?

Momentus learned valuable lessons that informed enhancements in their integration and testing processes for the Vigoride OSV.