Starfish Space

Headquartered in Washington, Starfish Space is an on-orbit satellite servicing company, founded by former Blue Origin and NASA engineers.

As of September 2024, the startup had developed The Otter, a small space tug that supports cost-effective and adaptable satellite service missions, including extending the lives of large geostationary spacecraft and removing space debris from low-Earth orbit. In June 2023, Starfish launched its Otter Pup demonstration mission, which was unsuccessful due to a propulsion failure. In April 2024, the company successfully launched its rendezvous mission between the Otter Pup and D-Orbit’s ION satellite.

As of 2024, Starfish Space was also developing its patented CEPHALOPOD software, which had not been commercialized. The software is an autonomous RPOD software that can use electric propulsion, enabling small RPOD spacecraft, which the startup claims can give small servicing vehicles 8x more maneuvering capability.

Key customers and partnerships

In May 2021, Starfish Space partnered with Benchmark Space Systems to support precision on-orbit services including on-orbit refueling and docking capabilities. In April 2021, the company partnered with Accion Systems to test two TILE 2 propulsion system units for LEO and proximity operations maneuvers using Starfish Space software aboard SpaceX’s rideshare launch. 

To support its Otter Pup mission, the company partnered with Redwire in February 2023 to receive Redwire’s ARGUS space domain awareness camera. 

In May 2024, Starfish Space received a USD 37.5 million Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) contract to build an Otter spacecraft for the US Department of Defense. In June 2024, the company signed a contract with Intelsat to provide life extension services via a Starfish Otter for an Intelsat satellite in 2026. 

In September 2024, Starfish Space received a USD 15 million Phase III SBIR contract for the Small Spacecraft Propulsion and Inspection Capability (SSPICY) mission, scheduled to launch in 2026.