Starfish Space, founded in 2019 by two former Blue Origin engineers, is finally sending its first full-sized Otter spacecraft to orbit. The mission, called SSPICY, is funded by NASA and will demonstrate proximity operations by inspecting several defunct US-owned satellites. The company sees this as a step toward commercial services like deorbiting debris and extending the life of existing satellites.
The spacecraft bus, roughly the size of a large washing machine and weighing about 350 kg, will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 Transporter mission next month. NASA is paying $15 million for the demonstration, marking the first time the agency has funded a commercial debris inspection mission. After inspections, Starfish may use the remaining life of the Otter to attempt more advanced maneuvers.
The company's path has been uneven. Its first demo mission, Otter Pup 1 in 2023, suffered a thruster failure after prematurely ejecting its spacecraft. Later demonstrations, including Otter Pup 2 and a partnership with Impulse Space, showed successful close-approach and autonomous rendezvous software. With about 120 employees and $150 million raised, Starfish now has five additional Otters in production for future missions involving docking, de-orbit, and life extension.