Momentus Secures Commercial Contract with ARCSPACE to Advance In-Space Manufacturing
Momentus Inc. (NASDAQ: MNTS) (“Momentus” or the “Company”), a U.S. commercial space company specializing in satellite technology, space transportation, and in-orbit services, today announced it has expanded its commercial business portfolio and entered into a contract with ARCSPACE, an aerospace company specializing in in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM). Momentus will host ARCSPACE’s payload focused on space manufacturing through an autonomous in-space welding demonstration aboard the Vigoride-9 Orbital Service Vehicle (OSV) mission, currently projected to launch in 2027.
The objective of the ARCSPACE payload is to validate its welding processes in the microgravity environment of low Earth orbit (LEO), and generate critical performance data that could support future ISAM operations. The mission will demonstrate autonomous welding operations and evaluate weld quality, process stability and operational performance in LEO conditions. These functions are critical to support repair, construction, and manufacturing activities on orbit.
“Hosting ARCSPACE's welding technology payload aboard our Vigoride-9 OSV further demonstrates our capabilities to support innovative technologies in space. As the space economy evolves, there is growing momentum behind the ability to manufacture, assemble, and repair structures on orbit, and we look forward to hosting ARCSPACE’s payload,” said John C. Rood, Chief Executive Officer of Momentus. “Facilitating this operation reinforces Momentus’ growing market position as a provider of next generation space infrastructure, supporting customers with reliable and cost-effective access to the space environment to validate transformative technologies."
The ARCSPACE payload will utilize Momentus' hosted payload service, which provides customers with access to spacecraft power, communications, central command and control, and operational support aboard the Vigoride-9 OSV. Momentus provides hosted payload missions to organizations to ultimately validate technologies in space without the cost and complexity of developing, operating, and owning a dedicated spacecraft.
“Demonstrating autonomous welding in orbit is a critical step toward building larger and more capable structures in space,” said Guillaume Mohara, Chief Executive Officer of ARCSPACE. “By partnering with Momentus and flying aboard Vigoride-9, we will be able to validate our technology in its intended operating environment and generate valuable data to support future space manufacturing and construction applications.”
During the mission, the ARCSPACE payload will perform a series of autonomous welding operations and transmit operational data to engineering teams on the ground for analysis and measurable results.
The ARCSPACE agreement further expands Momentus' growing portfolio of commercial customers and reinforces the Company's strategy of providing critical in-space infrastructure services to the emerging space economy. As demand increases for in-space manufacturing, servicing, and assembly capabilities, Momentus continues to position its Vigoride Orbital Service Vehicle as a versatile platform that enables customers to validate and deploy innovative technologies in orbit.