Tom Mueller: Mira’s precision maneuvering capabilities, Helios’ cost-effective satellite transport, and the shift towards government contracts in space tech | TWIST

Key takeaways

• Mira is designed for precision maneuvering in space, capable of hosting and deploying payloads.
• Moving a spacecraft from low Earth orbit ($LEO) to geosynchronous orbit (GEO) requires significantly more speed than current capabilities allow.
• Space Force has shown significant interest in the spacecraft, leading to multiple units being produced for government use.
• Helios is designed to transport satellites directly from low Earth orbit to geostationary orbit much faster than current methods.
• Helios will likely feature the highest performing hydrocarbon engine ever built, providing significant thrust.
• Helios can significantly reduce the cost of payload delivery to the moon and Mars.
• Traditional multistage rockets add complexity and cost, while Helios simplifies the launch process.
• The new launch vehicle offers five times the payload for only $25 million more, making it a compelling product.
• The rocket’s reusability would require propellant depots in low Earth orbit ($LEO) and geostationary orbit (GEO).
• Helios can significantly increase payload capacity for lunar missions.
• Mira’s storable propellants allow it to stay on orbit for years, enhancing its operational flexibility.
• The shift from commercial to government sectors indicates a strategic pivot in the market for space technology.
• Helios’ high-performance engine could impact the efficiency and capabilities of future space missions.
• The cost-effectiveness and efficiency of Helios compared to traditional launch systems highlight its potential market advantage.
• The technical requirements for making rockets reusable are crucial for modern space launch strategies.

Guest intro

Tom Mueller is a featured guest on This Week in Startups, discussing topics covered in this episode.

Mira’s capabilities in space operations

• Mira is designed for precision maneuvering, hosting, and deploying payloads in space.

• Mira is our highly propulsive spacecraft that can do precision maneuvering and it has storable propellants not cryogenic propellants so it can stay on orbit for years… it can host payloads… or it can deploy payloads… it can do rendezvous and proximity ops…

  — Tom Mueller

• The use of storable propellants allows Mira to remain operational in orbit for extended periods.
• Understanding Mira’s functionalities is crucial for satellite management and space operations.
• Mira’s design supports rendezvous and proximity operations, enhancing its versatility.
• The spacecraft’s ability to host and deploy payloads makes it a valuable asset for various space missions.
• Mira’s operational flexibility is enhanced by its long-term orbital capabilities.
• The spacecraft’s precision maneuvering capabilities are essential for complex space missions.

Challenges in moving spacecraft to higher orbits

• The transition from $LEO to GEO requires significantly more speed than current capabilities allow.

• …going from leo to gio is about is over four kilometers per second mira can do 900 meters per second so we’re off by over a factor four from that…

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  — Tom Mueller

• Understanding orbital mechanics is crucial for advancing spacecraft capabilities.
• The technical limitations in speed highlight the need for innovation in spacecraft design.
• The demand for higher orbital capabilities is driven by both commercial and government sectors.
• The gap in current capabilities underscores the challenges faced by the aerospace industry.
• Advancements in propulsion technology are necessary to meet the demands of higher orbits.
• The strategic pivot towards government contracts reflects the current market dynamics.

Helios’ advancements in satellite deployment

• Helios is designed to transport satellites from $LEO to GEO much faster than current methods.

• the original use case when I designed it was to take a four ton satellite which is kind of the geo market… directly from leo to geo on a on a on a falcon nine

  — Tom Mueller

• The reduction in transit time is a key innovation in satellite deployment technology.
• Helios’ design addresses the limitations of current satellite deployment methods.
• The spacecraft’s capabilities offer significant advantages over existing solutions.
• Helios’ high-performance engine provides substantial thrust, enhancing its operational efficiency.

• it’s got a super high performance engine… that provides 15,000 pounds of thrust probably gonna be the highest performing hydrocarbon engine ever built

  — Tom Mueller

• The technological advancements of Helios could impact future space missions.

Cost-effectiveness of Helios in space missions

• Helios can significantly reduce the cost of payload delivery to the moon and Mars.

• I think you said something like you can get three or four tons there for something like 10 x less cost… we can increase the payload to the moon on a on a falcon nine by about a factor of four in our calculation… we can increase the amount of payload to Mars by about a factor of five.

  — Tom Mueller

• The cost-effectiveness of Helios highlights its potential market advantage.
• The spacecraft’s capabilities offer a clear and quantifiable insight into launch economics.
• Traditional multistage rockets add complexity and cost, while Helios simplifies the launch process.

• Most launch vehicles have a lot of flights to leo… staging is super efficient but it just adds more cost and more complexity.

  — Tom Mueller

• Helios represents a shift in launch strategy, highlighting the inefficiencies of current systems.
• The reduction in launch costs is a significant factor in Helios’ market appeal.

The value proposition of new launch vehicles

• The new launch vehicle offers five times the payload for only $25 million more.

• so think about that for you know our our sales our price for this thing is 25,000,000 and a launch vehicle is like 70 to 100,000,000 so you’re getting five times the payload for only $25,000,000 more only for like one quarter of your total cost launch cost it’s it’s such a compelling product

  — Tom Mueller

• The competitive pricing of the launch vehicle enhances its market appeal.
• The value proposition of the new launch vehicle is driven by its cost-effectiveness.
• The increased payload capacity offers significant advantages for space missions.
• The spacecraft’s design supports a compelling product offering in the aerospace market.
• The strategic pricing of the launch vehicle positions it as a competitive option.
• The cost-effectiveness of the launch vehicle is a key factor in its market success.

Reusability and propellant depots in space

• The rocket’s reusability would require propellant depots in $LEO and GEO.

• it would require propellant depots in leo and geo so you would you would fill it in leo take a payload up to geo and then and then refuel partially you’d only you’d only have that partial refuel to come back down because you’re empty if you dropped your payload

  — Tom Mueller

• The concept of propellant depots is crucial for modern space launch strategies.
• Reusability is a significant aspect of the new launch vehicle’s design.
• The technical requirements for reusability highlight the innovation in space technology.
• Propellant depots play a critical role in enhancing the spacecraft’s operational efficiency.
• The strategic use of propellant depots supports the reusability of the launch vehicle.
• The advancement in reusability technology is a key factor in the spacecraft’s design.

Enhancing payload capacity for lunar missions

• Helios can significantly increase payload capacity for lunar missions.

• I think it can provide it can increase the payload from like 200 kilograms to like a thousand kilograms on a Falcon 9 or it can get you to like three or more tons on a Falcon Heavy.

  — Tom Mueller

• The increased payload capacity is crucial for lunar exploration and logistics.
• Helios’ capabilities offer significant advantages for lunar missions.
• The spacecraft’s design supports enhanced payload capacity for space missions.
• The strategic focus on payload capacity highlights the importance of Helios in space logistics.
• The increased payload capacity is a key factor in Helios’ market appeal.
• The technological advancements of Helios enhance its operational capabilities for lunar missions.