Spacecraft company to release its Otters into the wild after seven years of development
Starfish Space, a burgeoning company in the aerospace sector, is preparing to launch its SSPICY mission using the Otter spacecraft, a project that exemplifies innovation in satellite servicing capabilities. The groundwork for this initiative has been laid over the past seven years, during which the company has maintained a focused approach, employing approximately 120 personnel and raising around 0 million in funding. The Otter spacecraft, which is derived from a procurement arrangement with Astro Digital, is designed to enhance operational capabilities in space through advanced software and maneuvering technologies. These innovations will facilitate precise rendezvous and docking functionalities while ensuring the longevity needed for servicing multiple vehicles in orbit.
The path to this mission has not been straightforward. Starfish’s inaugural launch, Otter Pup 1, in 2023 ended in disappointment when the spacecraft experienced a premature ejection due to a failure in the external orbital transfer vehicle, resulting in the Otter Pup 1 being spun out of control. Despite the team’s successful recovery efforts, one of the spacecraft’s thrusters ultimately failed. However, the firm has since demonstrated resilience with subsequent missions, such as Otter Pup 2, which launched in 2025 and successfully operated in close proximity to a target spacecraft in low-Earth orbit—coming as near as one kilometer. A docking maneuver is anticipated to be executed in the near future, showcasing progress in Starfish’s technology.
Additionally, Starfish’s collaboration with Impulse Space last summer yielded notable advancements, as they successfully demonstrated autonomous rendezvous capabilities using a lightweight camera system and sophisticated guidance software on the Mira spacecraft, post its primary mission.
As the company gears up for the SSPICY mission, the stakes are high. Starfish is in the process of producing five more Otter vehicles for additional missions that will further demonstrate docking, de-orbit, and extended life capabilities. Bradley Bennett, CEO of Starfish, expressed a mix of excitement and tension regarding the upcoming launch; he recognizes the significance of this mission as a pivotal moment for the company and the future of space servicing technology. With this mission, Starfish aims not only to prove its operational competence but also to celebrate the collective effort of its team and partners in reaching this significant milestone in aerospace innovation.
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