iRocket and Turion Space Launch Agreement

IRocket Secures First Commercial Launch Agreement

IRocket, a New York-based startup focused on developing reusable rocket technology, has announced its inaugural commercial contract. The company revealed on Thursday that it has entered into a multi-launch agreement with Turion Space, a recent graduate of the Y Combinator program.

Details of the Launch Agreement

The agreement stipulates that iRocket will deploy 20 of Turion Space’s upcoming Droid satellites into orbit over the course of 10 separate launches.

IRocket's Reusable Rocket Development

IRocket is currently engaged in the development of fully reusable rockets, beginning with its Shockwave launch vehicle series. The company anticipates the Shockwave rockets will be operational and ready for orbital missions within the next two years.

This autonomously operated, 3D-printed rocket is designed to accommodate payloads weighing up to approximately 300 kg (661 lbs.) and a maximum of 1,500 kg (around 3,300 lbs.).

Funding and Partnerships

The company confirmed its development timeline remains on schedule, and highlighted the partnership with Turion as a significant reinforcement of its progress. IRocket has secured funding from the U.S. Space Force, M&J Engineering Group, and the venture capital firm Village Global.

Shared Focus on Orbital Debris Mitigation

Both iRocket and Turion Space share a common interest in addressing the growing issue of space debris. iRocket’s reusable upper stage technology, coupled with Turion’s Droid spacecraft, aims to tackle this problem.

Turion’s Droid spacecraft is designed to capture and remove orbital debris by physically docking with it and maneuvering it into a lower orbit, where atmospheric drag will eventually cause it to burn up.

Turion Space's Development Timeline

Turion Space, a participant in the Y Combinator summer 2021 program, is planning to launch its first Droid prototype in October 2022.

The startup already has a launch agreement established for this initial mission, although the specific launch provider remains undisclosed.

Initial Prototype Mission Focus

The initial launch will focus on establishing operational capabilities rather than immediate debris removal. According to Turion CEO Ryan Westerdahl, the primary objective is “domain awareness activities.”

Westerdahl explained the satellite is internally referred to as “Just Get It Up There,” emphasizing the importance of rapidly deploying a satellite to orbit to build and refine ground operations.

Turion Space Funding

In addition to support from Y Combinator, Turion Space has received investment from Soma Capital, Forward VC, Pi Campus, FoundersX Ventures, Harvard Management Company, and Imagination VC.

Commitment to Sustainable Space Operations

“Our top priority is building a sustainable future in low Earth orbit and active debris removal is a huge part of that,” Westerdahl stated, underscoring the company’s dedication to responsible space practices.

Potential for Future Collaboration

The two companies also indicated the possibility of future collaborative efforts in the area of in-orbit servicing.

Westerdahl suggested that Turion could leverage iRocket’s launch capabilities for final in-orbit deliveries, utilizing a portion of the launch vehicle’s payload capacity alongside space junk removal operations.

Corrections

A previous version of this story contained inaccuracies regarding iRocket’s funders, which have now been corrected.

11/12/21 Correction: An earlier report incorrectly stated that iRocket conducted hardware testing, including injector and rocket engine tests, at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. This has been corrected to reflect that these tests were performed independently by iRocket, without NASA’s involvement. iRocket has not utilized MSFC facilities for testing and has no existing agreement to do so.