Jun 4, 2025 - Business

Ex-SpaceX engineer raises $300 million for satellite "tugging"

Dan Primack

Illustration of a constellation tracing forming the shape of two hands shaking — Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios

Impulse Space, a California-based maker of spacecraft for "tugging" satellites across orbits, has raised $300 million in Series C funding led by Linse Capital.

Why it matters: This is the picks and shovels of defense-tech, akin to what oilfield service companies were to the fracking boom.

Zoom in: Impulse is led by Tom Mueller, the first SpaceX employee.

It claims to have 30 contracts worth around $200 million.
Other investors include DFJ Growth and insiders Valor Equity Partners, Founders Fund, Lux Capital, RTX Ventures, DCVC, Airbus Ventures, Spring Tide, First Principles Group, Balerion Space Ventures, Tamarack Global, and Trousdale Ventures.

Add Axios on Google

Ex-SpaceX engineer raises $300 million for satellite "tugging"

What to read next