HyImpulse: Hybrid Rocket Propulsion for Flexible Small Satellite Launch

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Access to space is increasingly shaped by the need for flexible, cost-efficient launch solutions tailored to small satellite missions. While large launch vehicles dominate high-capacity deployments, they often lack adaptability for smaller payloads and dedicated mission timelines. HyImpulse develops launch systems designed to address this gap through hybrid rocket propulsion and modular vehicle architectures. Originating as a spin-off from the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the company focuses on enabling more accessible and flexible launch services for commercial and institutional users. By combining suborbital and orbital capabilities, the approach aims to support a broader range of missions, from microgravity experiments to dedicated satellite launches.

Technology and Product

At the core of HyImpulse’s technology is a hybrid rocket propulsion system using paraffin-based fuel and liquid oxygen as oxidizer. This approach combines characteristics of solid and liquid propulsion, offering simplified handling and potentially lower operational complexity.

The company develops two main vehicles: the SR75 suborbital rocket, designed for microgravity experiments and technology validation, and the SL1 orbital launcher, capable of delivering payloads of up to around 600 kg into low Earth orbit. The architecture supports both suborbital and orbital missions, integrating propulsion, structures, and recovery concepts to enable flexible launch profiles.

Hybrid rocket engines are tested using paraffin-based fuel and liquid oxygen propulsion systems. (© HyImpulse Technologies GmbH)

Industrial Fit and Applications

As launch demand diversifies, smaller payloads and specialized missions require more adaptable access to space. HyImpulse addresses this shift with launch systems suited to flexible scheduling and mission-specific deployment profiles. Its vehicles are applicable across microgravity research, technology demonstration, and dedicated small satellite missions in low Earth orbit. This approach is particularly relevant for organizations seeking more direct control over launch timelines and mission parameters in an increasingly dynamic smallsat market.

HyImpulse’s launch vehicles integrate hybrid propulsion systems for suborbital and orbital missions. (© HyImpulse Technologies GmbH)

Founding Team

HyImpulse was founded by Dr. Christian Schmierer (CEO), Dr. Mario Kobald, Konstantin Tomilin (COO), and Ulrich Fischer (CTO), building on years of research and development in hybrid rocket propulsion at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the University of Stuttgart. The founding team brings deep experience in propulsion systems, rocket engineering, and launch operations, translating experimental hybrid technologies into operational launch vehicles.