Starfish Space

Link suggestions feature: 2 links added. ← Previous revision Revision as of 14:48, 18 April 2026 Line 5: Line 5: == History == == History == === 2019–2021: Founding and Initial Development === === 2019–2021: Founding and Initial Development === Austin Link and Dr. Trevor Bennett, former engineers at [[Blue Origin]], co-founded Starfish Space in October 2019. The company's objective is to develop a small satellite capable of capturing and moving other objects in orbit.<ref name=":1" /> In August 2021, Starfish was awarded a [[Small Business Innovation Research]] (SBIR) contract by the [[United States Space Force|U.S. Space Force]] to support the development of autonomous software for satellite proximity operations and docking.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Erwin |first=Sandra |date=2021-08-20 |title=Space Force awards $32 million in contracts to startups and small businesses |url=https://spacenews.com/space-force-awards-32-million-in-contracts-to-startups-and-small-businesses/ |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}</ref> The company raised $7 million in seed funding in September 2021, with the investment round led by NFX and MaC Venture Capital.<ref name=":1" /> Austin Link and Dr. Trevor Bennett, former engineers at [[Blue Origin]], co-founded Starfish Space in October 2019. The company's objective is to develop a [[small satellite]] capable of capturing and moving other objects in orbit.<ref name=":1" /> In August 2021, Starfish was awarded a [[Small Business Innovation Research]] (SBIR) contract by the [[United States Space Force|U.S. Space Force]] to support the development of autonomous software for satellite proximity operations and docking.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Erwin |first=Sandra |date=2021-08-20 |title=Space Force awards $32 million in contracts to startups and small businesses |url=https://spacenews.com/space-force-awards-32-million-in-contracts-to-startups-and-small-businesses/ |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}</ref> The company raised $7 million in seed funding in September 2021, with the investment round led by NFX and MaC Venture Capital.<ref name=":1" /> === 2022–2026: Otter Pup 1 Mission and First Otter Contracts === === 2022–2026: Otter Pup 1 Mission and First Otter Contracts === Line 27: Line 27: In December 2025, Starfish Space, in collaboration with [[Impulse Space]], announced the successful completion of the Remora mission, an autonomous rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) demonstration conducted in low Earth orbit (LEO). The mission represented an industry first, a fully autonomous rendezvous performed by Starfish using a single lightweight camera system and closed-loop guidance, navigation, and control software operating on a peripheral flight computer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=December 15, 2025 |title=Starfish Space and Impulse Space demonstrate autonomous spacecraft proximity operations |url=https://spacenews.com/starfish-space-and-impulse-space-demonstrate-autonomous-spacecraft-proximity-operations/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Berger |first=Eric |date=2025-12-19 |title=Two space startups prove you don’t need to break the bank to rendezvous in space |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/12/two-space-startups-prove-you-dont-need-to-break-the-bank-to-rendezvous-in-space/ |access-date=2025-12-19 |website=Ars Technica |language=en}}</ref> In December 2025, Starfish Space, in collaboration with [[Impulse Space]], announced the successful completion of the Remora mission, an autonomous rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) demonstration conducted in low Earth orbit (LEO). The mission represented an industry first, a fully autonomous rendezvous performed by Starfish using a single lightweight camera system and closed-loop guidance, navigation, and control software operating on a peripheral flight computer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=December 15, 2025 |title=Starfish Space and Impulse Space demonstrate autonomous spacecraft proximity operations |url=https://spacenews.com/starfish-space-and-impulse-space-demonstrate-autonomous-spacecraft-proximity-operations/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Berger |first=Eric |date=2025-12-19 |title=Two space startups prove you don’t need to break the bank to rendezvous in space |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/12/two-space-startups-prove-you-dont-need-to-break-the-bank-to-rendezvous-in-space/ |access-date=2025-12-19 |website=Ars Technica |language=en}}</ref> In January 2026, Starfish Space announced it was awarded a $52.5 million contract by the [[United States Space Force|U.S. Space Force]], through its [[Space Development Agency]], to provide end-of-life satellite disposal services for the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture in low Earth orbit.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Boyle |first1=Alan |title=Starfish Space wins $54.5M Space Force contract for another satellite servicing vehicle |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2026/starfish-space-54-5m-space-force/ |website=GeekWire |access-date=12 February 2026 |date=7 February 2026}}</ref> The contract marked the first time a customer formally contracted an end-of-life disposal mission for an operational satellite constellation. Under the agreement, Starfish Space will build, launch, and operate an Otter spacecraft designed to deorbit retired satellites, beginning with an initial disposal mission and including options for multiple additional deorbits. The mission is targeting a launch in 2027.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SDA taps Starfish for first-of-its-kind satellite disposal service|url=https://breakingdefense.com/2026/01/sda-taps-starfish-for-first-of-its-kind-satellite-disposal-service/|website=Breaking Defense|date=2026-01-21|access-date=2026-01-29|language=en-US|first=Theresa|last=Hitchens}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Starfish Space wins SDA contract to deorbit satellites|url=https://spacenews.com/starfish-space-wins-sda-contract-to-deorbit-satellites/|work=SpaceNews|date=2026-01-21|access-date=2026-01-29|language=en-US|first=Jeff|last=Foust}}</ref> In January 2026, Starfish Space announced it was awarded a $52.5 million contract by the [[United States Space Force|U.S. Space Force]], through its [[Space Development Agency]], to provide end-of-life satellite disposal services for the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture in low Earth orbit.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Boyle |first1=Alan |title=Starfish Space wins $54.5M Space Force contract for another satellite servicing vehicle |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2026/starfish-space-54-5m-space-force/ |website=GeekWire |access-date=12 February 2026 |date=7 February 2026}}</ref> The contract marked the first time a customer formally contracted an end-of-life disposal mission for an operational [[satellite constellation]]. Under the agreement, Starfish Space will build, launch, and operate an Otter spacecraft designed to deorbit retired satellites, beginning with an initial disposal mission and including options for multiple additional deorbits. The mission is targeting a launch in 2027.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SDA taps Starfish for first-of-its-kind satellite disposal service|url=https://breakingdefense.com/2026/01/sda-taps-starfish-for-first-of-its-kind-satellite-disposal-service/|website=Breaking Defense|date=2026-01-21|access-date=2026-01-29|language=en-US|first=Theresa|last=Hitchens}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Starfish Space wins SDA contract to deorbit satellites|url=https://spacenews.com/starfish-space-wins-sda-contract-to-deorbit-satellites/|work=SpaceNews|date=2026-01-21|access-date=2026-01-29|language=en-US|first=Jeff|last=Foust}}</ref> In April 2026, Starfish raised over $100 million in a Series B funding round led by Point72 Ventures<ref>{{Cite web |last=Neuhauser |first=Alan |date=2026-04-07 |title=Exclusive: Starfish raises $110M to service in-orbit satellites |url=https://www.axios.com/pro/climate-deals/2026/04/07/starfish-space-satellite-services-austin-link |access-date=2026-04-07 |website=Axios |language=en}}</ref>. The round was co-led by Activate Capital and Shield Capital, with participation from Industrious Ventures and NightDragon. Existing investors NFX, Munich Re Ventures, Toyota Ventures, and PSL Ventures also participated. New investors included Nomi Capital, Gaingels, and Overlap Holdings. In April 2026, Starfish raised over $100 million in a Series B funding round led by Point72 Ventures<ref>{{Cite web |last=Neuhauser |first=Alan |date=2026-04-07 |title=Exclusive: Starfish raises $110M to service in-orbit satellites |url=https://www.axios.com/pro/climate-deals/2026/04/07/starfish-space-satellite-services-austin-link |access-date=2026-04-07 |website=Axios |language=en}}</ref>. The round was co-led by Activate Capital and Shield Capital, with participation from Industrious Ventures and NightDragon. Existing investors NFX, Munich Re Ventures, Toyota Ventures, and PSL Ventures also participated. New investors included Nomi Capital, Gaingels, and Overlap Holdings.