As the space industry evolves, Impulso has observed a clear trend: more and more missions are setting their sights beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO). From Geostationary Orbit (GEO) to cislunar ones, and the Moon itself, interest in these strategic and challenging destinations is on the rise. This momentum was especially noticeable at recent events such as SmallSat Europe 2025, Space Meetings Veneto 2025, and the 40th Space Symposium, where speakers, exhibitors, and attendees alike shared the growing need for access to higher orbits.

Emerging Trends in High-Orbit Missions

The uptick in interest is driven by a range of mission objectives:

  • GEO continues to serve as a vital platform for communications, weather monitoring, and Earth Observation. Its fixed position relative to Earth makes it ideal for consistent coverage of an area.
  • Cislunar space is fast becoming a logistical and operational priority, with both government space agencies and private companies planning infrastructure to support lunar exploration, communications, and refueling stations.
  • Lunar surface missions are accelerating, with recent missions such as Firefly’s Blue Ghost, Japan’s SLIM, and India’s Chandrayaan-3 being clear indicators of this trend. Furthermore, international partnerships and commercial initiatives aiming to explore, extract resources, and, eventually, establish a sustained presence on the Moon continue to be on the rise, as shown by missions such as ESA’s Moonlight.
  • Exploring beyond the Moon continues to generate interest, in particular in the form of missions to Earth’s neighbor Mars, making the establishment of a service station in Cislunar orbit a must.
  • National Sovereignty and Security make higher orbits very desirable as they can provide a country with secure communications and broader observation capabilities.

This shift raises a critical question for those shaping the future of space access:

What change do you believe would be beneficial to support this increase in the demand for higher-orbit missions?

Our CEO Pietro Guerrieri had this to say: To truly unlock the potential of GEO, cislunar, and lunar missions, we need a shift in mindset from ad-hoc solutions to a more mission-centric, integrated approach. This includes expanding multi-orbit launch capabilities, but more importantly, developing the infrastructure around launch campaigns: harmonized logistics, specialized ground support, and seamless satellite handling across geographies. Reducing friction in these critical areas can dramatically increase mission velocity and reliability, especially for high-value, long-range missions.

Current Launch Capabilities and Gaps

Let’s take a look at how some launchers are approaching the demand for more high-orbit missions. 

  • SpaceX is expected to conduct an unprecedented 170 orbital launches in 2025, though most being geared toward LEO satellite constellations like Starlink. That said, the company’s Starship rocket is poised to undertake cislunar missions as well, with its HLS lander expected to be used in the Artemis III mission.
  • Rocket Lab has successfully demonstrated high-orbit capabilities with missions like CAPSTONE to the Moon and Blue Ghost.
  • Arianespace’s Ariane 6 is scheduled to have a GTO mission in 2026, the Intelsat 45, with more GTO missions on the way after this first one.
  • United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur is entering service with a mix of GTO and MEO missions, including GPS III SV-10 and WGS-11+, which mark a solid step toward regular higher-orbit deployments.
  • Blue Origin made headlines in early 2025 with New Glenn’s first orbital flight, and missions such as EscaPADE (a Mars mission) and Blue Moon MK1 (a lunar lander) show the company’s potential to be a serious player in the cislunar and lunar domain.
  • Impulse Space’s Helios is a kick stage designed specifically to MEO, GEO, Cislunar and higher orbits. 
  • Astranis’ Use of Rideshare Missions to launch its MicroGEO Satellites into their intended orbit.

Some companies have taken this as a chance to focus on servicing satellites while they are in orbit, thus extending their lifespans and enabling more complex and far-reaching missions:

  • Starfish Space’s Otter is a servicing vehicle that can perform satellite life extension and disposal operations.
  • D-Orbit’s GEA is a spacecraft made for in-orbit servicing and logistics for satellites in GEO.
  • Infinite Orbits’ Rendez Vous Solution is an autonomous vision-based navigation software used for in-orbit servicing.

There have also been some challenges in reaching these orbits, as these missions come with even more complex orbital dynamics and have to navigate through more space debris in order to reach their target. On top of that, the communication between the spacecraft and mission control becomes more and more challenging, the farther out into space it travels. Some of the recent failed missions included: ispace’s lunar lander, Resilience, which experienced a hard landing on the Moon, ending its mission early and NASA’s Lunar Flashlight, which did not reach its intended target of the Moon’s South Pole due to an issue with the propulsion system.

So, as we can see, launch providers are certainly cognizant of the need for an increase in high-orbit launches. But is what they are currently planning enough, or do we still need more to meet the market’s demands? 

Pietro Guerrieri’s Response: What’s planned is promising, but not yet enough. Launch cadence is increasing, yes, but mission complexity is increasing even faster. High-orbit missions come with a steeper cost of failure and tighter performance requirements. That’s why we do not need just more launches, but smarter preparation, closer coordination across stakeholders, greater flexibility in launch campaign design, and robust, dedicated infrastructure to support high-orbit needs. At Impulso, we’re working to bridge that exact gap.

Mission Design Implications

This trend is not only technical, it also has direct implications for how missions are planned and structured. As satellite operators move away from standard LEO deployments, they are, in turn, forced to rethink their approach, from propulsion systems to launch configurations. What will this mean in terms of the type of missions launched? We asked Impulso’s CCO, Giulia Guerrieri, to share her perspective:

Based on your experience from space conferences and the market, how do you feel that this shift in target orbits will affect the type of missions we will see in the future (i.e., will there be a shift in the number of rideshares, piggyback, dedicated missions, etc.)?

Giulia Guerrieri’s Response: Based on what I’ve seen at recent space conferences and in the evolving market, the shift toward more specific target orbits is already reshaping the launch landscape. There is a clear move toward dedicated missions, as operators seek greater control over deployment timing and orbital parameters. This growing diversity in orbital requirements is also adding complexity to launch planning, leading to earlier bookings and more customized scheduling across providers. At the same time, the demand for precision is driving the rise of last mile delivery solutions such as kick stages and orbital transfer vehicles, which offer greater flexibility within standard rideshare launches. As a result, we are seeing increased interest in vertically integrated services that bring together satellite preparation, launch, and delivery into a single streamlined offering. This is exactly where Impulso.Space is working to open new paths for operators.

This new trend in mission diversity highlights the ever-increasing need for support systems that are agile, modular, and mission-specific. Standard rideshare models, which work well in LEO, may not always align with the trajectories and timelines needed for GEO or lunar transfer missions. And dedicated launches may need an entirely different approach to support their launch campaigns. This is where we believe Impulso can come in to facilitate the smooth and seamless execution of these missions.

Impulso’s Role in Bridging the Gap

Recognizing the need for a rapid response to this shift, we at Impulso are focused on enabling high-orbit missions through the streamlining of everything that surrounds the launch itself. That way our clients can focus on pursuing these complex and ambitious missions while leaving the logistics to us. From launch capacity brokerage to on-site operations at our facility and final delivery to the launch site, we can ensure that each mission will run as smoothly as possible through our services:

  • An End-to-End Launch Support Solution
    We take care of the complex, behind-the-scenes work needed to get a satellite to space. From international shipment and customs clearance to navigating the complex landscape of space insurance, and even delivery to the launch site itself, we make the path to orbit clear and simple.
  • A Dedicated Facility for Satellite Operations
    Our facility is tailor-made for satellite preparation, with the capabilities to support fueling, payload integration, functional and health checks, and more. Furthermore, by moving the launch campaign away from the launch site, teams can benefit from exclusive access to our clean room, ground support equipment, such as forklifts and pallet jacks, and round-the-clock technical assistance.
  • Support at Every Step
    We are more than a site, we are a partner. Whether it is handling the logistics, coordinating ground operations, or conforming to our clients’ schedules, we are here to reduce risk, ease pressure, and make even the most complex and ambitious missions feel manageable.

As the need for GEO, cislunar, and lunar missions grows, we are committed to making these more accessible, by making sure everything needed for a launch runs exactly as it should. But let’s hear from our CEO once more to get his perspective on the current state of the space sector.

Do you believe the space industry is well poised to handle this increase in high-orbit missions? And how do you see Impulso slotting in to support the upcoming volume of these missions?

Pietro Guerrieri’s Response: The space industry is on the cusp of something transformational. The demand for high-orbit missions is real and growing. And while the launch sector is stepping up, we see a critical gap in mission support services. That’s where Impulso fits in. We simplify and professionalize the path to orbit, with purpose-built facilities, operational know-how, and a commitment to flexibility. As the sector evolves, our job is to make sure our clients are not slowed down by complexity, and instead empowered by clarity, speed, and execution.

We believe that the whole space ecosystem should work together to ensure the success of these missions, and we are proud to do our part by taking care of all the complexities needed for a successful launch campaign.