Space News reports that German launch arranger Exolaunch (previously known as ECM) has ordered multiple missions of the Vigoride delivery spacecraft/space tug from the Momentus firm under a US$6 million contract. While not specified, the contract implies that five US1.2 million Vigoride rides have been ordered.
Artist’s illustration showing Vigoride delivery tug delivering nother spacecraft. Courtesy: Momentus
The Vigoride delivery spacecraft uses a water-based plasma thruster to raise spacecraft upto 250kg from low earth orbit (LEO) to other orbits. A later “extended” version of the Vigoride system will be capable of reaching all the way to Geosynchronous orbits – this time for a price of US$4.8 million.
In a separate development, the launch provider Vector Space Systems announced that under a multi-launch services agreement it has received a launch booking for a Vector R launch from the launch arranger Spaceflight. Under the deal spaceflight will take a launch planned for later this year in which it integrate the customer spacecraft to be carried under the Vector fairing which it will deliver back to the launch company so that it can be put on top of the rocket.
