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Milestone mission expands U.S. space domain awareness capabilities and deepens partnership between HEO and Impulse Space
Washington, D.C. (Nov 28, 2025) – Today, HEO USA launched Holmes Mk2, the first NOAA-licensed non-Earth imaging (NEI) payload authorized to operate above 800 kilometers altitude, aboard Impulse Space’s Mira spacecraft as part of the LEO Express 3 mission. The mission marks the debut of HEO’s Mk2-class sensors and extends U.S.-based NEI operations.
This launch expands HEO’s imaging reach into high-LEO, a region critical for monitoring operational satellites and emerging debris threats. From this vantage point, HEO can access over 1,000 new space objects, including many of the 50 most hazardous debris objects. Powered by Mira, Holmes Mk2 will capture critical imaging data and deliver it directly to U.S. customers.
“Pairing Holmes Mk2 with Impulse’s highly maneuverable Mira spacecraft continues to be the ideal option to expand our unique capability into the higher LEO orbital regimes. Together, we’ll continue to deliver high-quality, responsive space domain awareness at exceptional value for government and commercial space operators alike” said Nate Notargiacomo, Head of HEO USA.
"Through our partnership to date with HEO, we have seen clear industry demand for high-quality imaging to support Space Domain Awareness (SDA) activities," said Eric Romo, Impulse Space President and COO. "On our first flight together earlier this year, we showed that we could move quickly from initial planning to successful image capture on orbit, and we're glad to bring that same level of execution to HEO as they move to higher and higher orbits."
The launch also reflects the deepening partnership between HEO and Impulse Space. Following their first successful mission launched in early 2025, this second launch within a year demonstrates a shared commitment to rapidly scaling the U.S.-based system capacity, with additional joint missions already in development.
HEO continues to expand its NEI network, and expects to have access to more than 60 sensors in LEO before the end of 2025. HEO is also on track to have initial operating capability in Geostationary Orbit (GEO) in late 2026.
About HEO USA
HEO USA INC. (HEO) is an Australian owned, US-based small business that delivers commercial on-demand, resolved non-Earth imaging (NEI) and analytic services at scale to government, defense, and commercial customers. HEO leverages a distributed network of sensors consisting of Earth observation satellite constellations and own sensors hosted on partner spacecraft to achieve proliferation of sensors across all orbits in the Earth-Moon system.
About Impulse Space
Impulse Space, the in-space mobility leader, is accelerating our future beyond Earth beginning with its fleet of cost-effective, high-performance space vehicles: Helios and Mira. The Helios kick stage unlocks high-energy orbits with its powerful Deneb engine, rapidly transporting payloads from LEO to MEO, GEO, heliocentric, lunar, and other planetary orbits. The flight-proven Mira enables precise maneuverability and rapid responsiveness for hosting, deployment, and rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) across any orbit. Founded by Tom Mueller and led by a team of industry pioneers, Impulse Space is transforming in-space mobility by reliably and rapidly getting customers where they want to go. And they're just getting started. For more information, visit www.impulsespace.com
