Starfish Space
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersSeattle, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
Starfish Space firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Starfish Space
- Legal name
- Starfish Space Inc.
- Website
- https://starfishspace.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Starfish Space industry classification
Industry- Product category
- On-orbit satellite servicing vehicles
- NAICS
- Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Ship and Boat Building (33661)
- SIC
- Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Space Logistics & In-Orbit Servicing (Refueling, Tug, Debris Removal) (IMABACAM)
Keywords
Where Starfish Space is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seattle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Starfish Space business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Mission-based satellite servicing contracts: Recurring/contracted satellite servicing missions priced per mission (e.g., $52.5M SDA deorbit contract, $54.5M Space Force/SSC APFIT contract, $37.5M STRATFI contract, Intelsat life extension contract). Multi-mission deal structures allow Otter to service several satellites in a single mission.
- Government R&D contracts (SBIR / TACFI / STRATFI / APFIT / NASA): Non-dilutive development funding from NASA (e.g., $15M SSPICY Phase III SBIR), AFWERX TACFI ($1.8M), NSIC/DIU ($3M for Nautilus), STRATFI ($37.5M) and APFIT ($54.5M) contracts supporting technology development and demonstration missions.
- Venture capital financing: Primary growth capital has come from successive equity rounds (Seed $7M, $14M, $29M, $110–115M Series B) led by NFX, Munich Re Ventures, Shield Capital and Point72 Ventures.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
Starfish Space product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Starfish Space designs, builds and operates the Otter, a small, all-electric-propulsion autonomous satellite servicing vehicle that performs rendezvous, proximity operations and docking (RPOD) with client satellites in GEO and LEO orbits. The vehicle is delivered to customers as mission-based services — satellite life extension, end-of-life disposal and orbital debris inspection — and is enabled by three proprietary technologies: CETACEAN computer-vision navigation, CEPHALOPOD autonomous guidance and control software, and the Nautilus universal electrostatic docking mechanism.
Product overview
Starfish Space offers an integrated satellite servicing platform anchored by the Otter servicing vehicle, supported by three proprietary core technologies — CETACEAN (computer vision navigation software), CEPHALOPOD (autonomous guidance and control software), and Nautilus (universal electrostatic docking mechanism). Together these enable autonomous Rendezvous, Proximity Operations, and Docking (RPOD) missions for both geostationary and low Earth orbit satellites. The full Otter product is the operational servicing spacecraft, while the smaller Otter Pup demonstration platform validates the underlying stack on orbit (with two flown to date, Otter Pup 1 in 2023 and Otter Pup 2 in 2025). These technologies are delivered to customers as mission services rather than as separate software products: Life Extension Service (GEO satellite life extension, contracted by Intelsat beginning 2026), Deorbit-as-a-Service (LEO end-of-life disposal, contracted by the Space Development Agency for the PWSA in 2027), and the NASA-funded SSPICY commercial orbital debris inspection service (late 2026 / 2027). Ground and mission operations are supported through a software integration with Quindar's mission control platform, and development/simulation workloads run on Google Cloud infrastructure.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Otter: The company's flagship branded product line — a small, electric-propulsion satellite servicing vehicle designed for satellite life extension in geostationary orbit and satellite disposal in low Earth orbit. Built on three proprietary technologies: CETACEAN (computer vision navigation software), CEPHALOPOD (autonomous guidance and control software), and Nautilus (universal docking/capture mechanism).
Products and services
- Otter Satellite Servicing Vehicle Autonomous satellite servicing vehicle, approximately 10x smaller and significantly less expensive than alternatives such as Northrop Grumman's Mission Robotic Vehicle and Astroscale's Provisioner. Uses exclusively electric propulsion to dock with satellites and is offered to government and commercial customers for satellite life extension (GEO) and end-of-life disposal (LEO).
- Otter Pup Demonstration Satellite
Quantifiable outcome
- ~$110M Series B closed in April 2026, bringing total venture capital raised to over $150M
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Starfish Space
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Starfish Space technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability7 records
Feature5 records
Starfish Space partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.
- Gilmour SpacecoreAustralia-based partner for Otter Pup 2's docking demonstration — Gilmour's ElaraSat is the target satellite for the upcoming commercial docking attempt in LEO.
- Google CloudcoreGoogle Cloud partnership announced February 2026 — Google provides cloud infrastructure, software-development expertise and GKE-based high-fidelity simulations / digital-twin testing for Starfish's autonomous satellite docking software. Dual-use application including potential national security.
- ReOrbitminorCo-announced alongside Starfish Space as a Google Cloud partner for satellite/cloud initiatives with dual-use (including national security) applications.
- QuindarcoreQuindar provides secure automated mission-control software for Starfish's first three Otter satellite servicing missions, supporting ground operations and automation.
- Impulse SpaceflagshipJoint developer and operator of the Remora mission — Impulse's Mira spacecraft hosted Starfish's CETACEAN/CEPHALOPOD payloads, achieving the first fully autonomous rendezvous in LEO using a single visual-range camera.
- Astro DigitalcoreManufactured and integrated the Otter Pup 2 satellite bus; also provided continuous operational support for Otter Pup 1 mission.
- ThrustMecoreSupplier of electric-propulsion thrusters for the Otter Pup 2 servicing vehicle.
- RedwirecoreSupplier of the Argus camera system used on Otter Pup 2 (and on Otter Pup 1) for relative navigation.
- Honeybee RoboticscoreContributor of components for Starfish's Nautilus universal docking/capture mechanism.
- SpaceXcoreLaunch services provider — Otter Pup 2 launched aboard SpaceX's Transporter-14 rideshare mission; Remora mission launched on Transporter-12; earlier missions on Falcon 9 Transporter-8.
- D-OrbitcoreStrategic partner for Otter Pup mission — D-Orbit's ION SCV006 served as the client satellite for the Otter Pup rendezvous (April 2024) and was originally selected as the client for Otter Pup 2's docking demonstration.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Starfish Space competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Astroscale: Astroscale (Tokyo-listed, ELSA-d demonstrator, Provisioner servicing vehicle) is the leading commercial on-orbit servicing and active debris removal company outside the U.S. It competes directly with Starfish in life extension and end-of-life disposal and has flight heritage in proximity operations and capture.
- Northrop Grumman (Mission Extension Vehicle / MRV): Northrop Grumman's Space Logistics business operates the Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV) — currently the only commercially operational satellite life-extension servicer, with multiple Intelsat and SES GEO contracts. It is Starfish's primary incumbent competitor in GEO servicing and the reference point for the cost/scale advantage Starfish claims with Otter.
Emerging players
- Turion Space: Turion Space (Irvine, CA) develops the DROID satellite servicing vehicle targeting satellite inspection, relocation and life extension. As a U.S.-based emerging competitor in the same satellite-servicing category with overlapping DoD and commercial customers, it is a direct emerging peer to Starfish.
- Impulse Space: Impulse Space builds Mira/Orbital Transfer Vehicles and partnered with Starfish on the Remora mission (host vehicle for CETACEAN/CEPHALOPOD payloads). It is comparable as an emerging in-space mobility and servicing provider with overlapping government and commercial customers and adjacent GNC capabilities.
- D-Orbit: D-Orbit (Italy) operates the ION Satellite Carrier for in-orbit transportation and was the client spacecraft for Starfish's Otter Pup 1 rendezvous. It is an adjacent peer in the on-orbit mobility/servicing ecosystem with comparable mission profiles and customer overlap.
- Momentus Space: Momentus Space builds orbital transfer vehicles (Vigoride) for satellite last-mile delivery and in-space services. It is comparable as an emerging on-orbit mobility provider serving both government and commercial customers with related mission architectures.
- Orbit Fab: Orbit Fab is developing in-space refueling infrastructure (RAFTI fueling ports) for satellite servicing. It is an adjacent emerging peer addressing the same broad satellite servicing market via a complementary refueling-focused product line.
- Atomos Space: Atomos Space is building orbital transfer/quasi-tug vehicles for satellite relocation and servicing. It is an emerging player with overlapping customer base (commercial constellation operators and DoD) and a comparable on-orbit mobility value proposition.
- ClearSpace: ClearSpace (Switzerland/UK) is developing active debris removal servicer spacecraft (ClearSpace-1, contracted by ESA). It is an emerging peer in the same satellite capture/deorbit category, addressing the orbital sustainability pain point that Starfish's DaaS offering targets.
Broad incumbents
- Maxar Technologies: Maxar is a major space infrastructure prime with a long-standing line of business in GEO satellite manufacturing and on-orbit servicing support work. It is comparable as a broader incumbent operating in the satellite servicing ecosystem with overlapping DoD/intelligence customers, though not focused on small low-cost servicing vehicles.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Starfish Space social profiles
Digital presenceStarfish Space financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Starfish Space leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Starfish Space subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Starfish Space funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds12 records
Investors29 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Starfish Space M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Starfish Space
What does Starfish Space do?
Starfish Space designs, builds and operates the Otter, a small, all-electric-propulsion autonomous satellite servicing vehicle that performs rendezvous, proximity operations and docking (RPOD) with client satellites in GEO and LEO orbits. The vehicle is delivered to customers as mission-based services — satellite life extension, end-of-life disposal and orbital debris inspection — and is enabled by three proprietary technologies: CETACEAN computer-vision navigation, CEPHALOPOD autonomous guidance and control software, and the Nautilus universal electrostatic docking mechanism.
Is Starfish Space a public or private company?
Starfish Space is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Starfish Space founded?
Starfish Space was founded in 2019. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Starfish Space based?
Starfish Space is headquartered in Seattle, United States, in the North America region.
How does Starfish Space make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Mission-based satellite servicing contracts are the primary driver. The others are government R&D contracts (SBIR / TACFI / STRATFI / APFIT / NASA) and venture capital financing.
Who are Starfish Space's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Astroscale and Northrop Grumman (Mission Extension Vehicle / MRV). Emerging players are Turion Space, Impulse Space, D-Orbit, Momentus Space, Orbit Fab, Atomos Space and ClearSpace. Maxar Technologies is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Starfish Space have an API?
No public API is recorded for Starfish Space.
What industry is Starfish Space in?
Starfish Space's product category is On-orbit satellite servicing vehicles. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABACAM, Space Logistics & In-Orbit Servicing (Refueling, Tug, Debris Removal). Its NAICS code is 336414 and its SIC code is 3760.