On February 9, 2026, Momentus Inc. announced it has entered into a Space Act Agreement with NASA to execute a groundbreaking in-orbit servicing and rendezvous demonstration mission. Scheduled for launch no earlier than March 2026 aboard a SpaceX Transporter mission, the flight will feature the Vigoride 7 Orbital Service Vehicle (OSV) performing complex maneuvers in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

This mission fulfills a $1.86 million contract with SpaceWERX, the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force, and represents a critical step toward operationalizing autonomous space infrastructure.

Multispectral Sensors for Enhanced Situational Awareness

The centerpiece of the March mission is the flight demonstration of Momentus’ internally developed Low-Cost Multispectral RPO Sensor (LCMRS) suite. This system integrates optical, infrared, and lidar sensors with advanced machine vision algorithms and data fusion techniques. Designed to enhance Space Situational Awareness (SSA), the sensor suite allows a spacecraft to autonomously approach, characterize, and navigate around “uncharacterized” objects in orbit. This capability is fundamental for the militarization of LEO, providing the Space Force with the tools needed for dynamic operations such as satellite inspection, refueling, and space debris management.

NASA Support and the R5-S10 CubeSat Imager

Under the new Space Act Agreement, NASA is providing critical mission support through the delivery of the R5 Spacecraft 10 (R5-S10) CubeSat. Funded by NASA’s Small Spacecraft Technology (SST) program and managed by the Johnson Space Center, the R5-S10 will function as a “free-flying imager.” During the mission, it will detach from the Vigoride 7 to capture high-resolution imagery of the host vehicle, assessing its health and performance in real-time. This joint effort is designed to refine In-Space Assembly and Manufacturing (ISAM) capabilities, moving the industry closer to a future where structures can be built and repaired entirely in orbit.

WiFi-Based Inter-Satellite Link Demonstrations

A secondary objective of the mission is the demonstration of advanced inter-satellite link (ISL) capabilities using WiFi-based data transmission. The R5-S10 CubeSat will attempt to transfer large files directly to the Vigoride 7 platform while in flight. These files will then be downlinked to the Momentus Operations Center and NASA Johnson, proving the viability of high-speed, real-time space communication. This “Space WiFi” approach is seen as a cost-effective way to enable complex formation flying and data sharing between swarms of small satellites, a key component of the Space Force’s proliferated LEO architecture.

Vigoride 7: A Fully Manifested Orbital Platform

The March 2026 launch marks a significant milestone for the Vigoride platform, which is currently fully booked with hosted payloads. In addition to the LCMRS and NASA R5-S10 missions, the Vigoride 7 will feature a 3D-printed fuel tank developed in collaboration with Velo3D, showcasing advanced metal additive manufacturing. The mission highlights the advantages of Momentus’ multi-manifest approach, where hosting multiple payloads on a single vehicle increases the data fidelity and operational results for all participants. This mission not only serves defense and research needs but also solidifies Momentus’ role as a primary provider of in-space transportation and infrastructure services.