What Orbital Robotics does

Orbital Robotics is a Seattle-based pre-revenue startup founded in 2024 that develops AI-powered autonomous robotic systems for on-orbit spacecraft servicing. The company builds space-rated robotic arms and intelligent software to perform satellite life-extension services including refueling, repair, upgrading, and orbital assembly, targeting the end-of-life problem where valuable geostationary orbit (GEO) satellites are typically decommissioned and become space debris. The company has reached Technology Readiness Level 4 (TRL-4) with a patent-pending system and has completed six flight demonstrations of AI-controlled robotic arms through NASA and U.S. universities, with additional on-orbit AI-directed operations planned.

The core product portfolio centers on ORA-Astrosfera, a space-rated 7-degree-of-freedom robotic manipulator with modular end-effectors, radiation-hardened electronics, and a cable-driven tendon system with shoulder-mounted motors that reduces moving mass in zero-gravity conditions. ORBtos, the company's intelligent spacecraft operating system, enables autonomous navigation, constellation management, and real-time telemetry processing. The technology stack combines deep reinforcement learning AI, vision-based navigation, and neural network planning and control, addressing dynamic coupling challenges that have historically made autonomous capture and manipulation of moving objects in orbit difficult. Additional catalog products include AstroBot, ASTRA-P, and NavIQ. The company is led by CEO Aaron Borger and staffed by former Blue Origin and SpaceX engineers with experience spanning the BE-7 Lunar Lander Engine, New Glenn, Orbital Reef, Blue Ring, and 100+ space shuttle missions.

Commercially, Orbital Robotics pursues an enterprise B2B go-to-market targeting GEO satellite operators as the primary segment and spacecraft manufacturers as a secondary segment. The company has identified market demand at $30 million per GEO customer for life extension services, indicating an outcome-based revenue model for primary services, with additional potential revenue streams from hardware sales of robotic arms, software licensing of ORBtos, and recurring mission autonomy software subscriptions. As of the latest data the company has zero arms launched to space and remains pre-revenue. Distribution relies on direct enterprise sales and industry event presence, including a 2025 TechCrunch Disrupt presentation hosted by Aerospace Corporation. The company is backed by AI House and has assembled an industry partner ecosystem including Nvidia, Orbit Fab, Orbital Composites, Enduralock, and Aerospace Corporation.

Name

Orbital Robotics

Legal name

Orbital Robotics

Website

https://www.orbital-robots.com/

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Orbital Robotics is a Seattle-based pre-revenue startup developing AI-powered autonomous robotic arms and spacecraft operating systems for on-orbit satellite servicing, including refueling, repair, and life extension, targeting GEO satellite operators and spacecraft manufacturers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Space Robotics and Autonomous Spacecraft Servicing

NAICS

Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)

SIC

Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

Space Logistics & In-Orbit Servicing (Refueling, Tug, Debris Removal) (IMABACAM)

Keywords

• Space robotics systems
• Satellite servicing
• On-orbit refueling
• Orbital assembly
• Autonomous spacecraft

Headquarters

HQ city

Puyallup

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Life Extension Services: On-orbit satellite life extension services including refueling, repair, and upgrading. GEO customers have been identified as willing to pay $30 million for life extension services.
2. Robotic Arms (ORA-Astrosfera): Space-rated robotic manipulators designed for on-orbit servicing and assembly. Features modular end-effectors and radiation-hardened electronics with 7 degrees of freedom and autonomous grappling capabilities.
3. ORBtos Software License: Intelligent operating system for spacecraft enabling autonomous navigation, constellation management, and real-time data processing. Real-time telemetry, AI-driven navigation, and secure communications.
4. Mission Autonomy Software: Advanced software for autonomous mission planning and execution, sold as part of integrated solutions or standalone.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Orbital Robotics develops AI-powered autonomous robotic arms and supporting software for on-orbit spacecraft servicing. The company's core offerings include space-rated robotic manipulators (ORA-Astrosfera) for satellite refueling, repair, life extension, and orbital assembly, along with the ORBtos intelligent operating system that enables autonomous navigation, constellation management, and real-time telemetry for next-generation spacecraft. The technology targets geostationary satellite operators and spacecraft manufacturers seeking to extend satellite operational life and perform rendezvous and proximity operations.

Product overview

Orbital Robotics is a Seattle-based company producing AI and robots for aerospace, backed by AI House and former Blue Origin and SpaceX engineers. The company offers a unified portfolio of space robotics and AI products including: (1) Robotic Arms (ORA-Astrosfera) - space-rated robotic manipulators with 7 degrees of freedom, autonomous grappling, and modular interfaces designed for on-orbit servicing and assembly; (2) ORBtos - an intelligent operating system for next-generation spacecraft enabling autonomous navigation, constellation management, and real-time telemetry; (3) AstroBot, ASTRA-P, and NavIQ - additional products in the catalog; and (4) AI-powered GNC Software - vision-based navigation and neural network planning systems. The company has completed six flight demonstrations of AI-controlled robotic arms through NASA and U.S. universities, with a TRL-4 patent-pending system for autonomous spacecraft servicing (repair, refueling, life extension) and orbital assembly.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ORA-Astrosfera: Space-rated robotic manipulator with 7 degrees of freedom, autonomous grappling, and modular interface designed for on-orbit servicing and assembly.
• ORBtos
• AstroBot
• ASTRA-P
• NavIQ

Products and services

• Robotic Arms (ORA-Astrosfera) Space-rated robotic manipulators designed for on-orbit servicing and assembly. Features modular end-effectors and radiation-hardened electronics with 7 degrees of freedom, autonomous grappling capabilities, and a modular interface. Intended for satellite operators, spacecraft manufacturers, and on-orbit assembly customers.
• ORBtos Intelligent operating system for next-generation spacecraft that enables autonomous navigation, constellation management, real-time data processing, AI-driven navigation, and secure communications. Sold as a software license to spacecraft manufacturers and operators.
• AstroBot Product listed in the Orbital Robotics catalog in the space robotics portfolio for space operations.
• ASTRA-P Product listed in the Orbital Robotics catalog in the space robotics portfolio for space operations.
• NavIQ Navigation and intelligence product for spacecraft listed in the Orbital Robotics catalog.
• Life Extension Services On-orbit satellite life extension services including refueling, repair, and upgrading for GEO satellite operators. Identified GEO customer willingness to pay approximately $30 million per engagement.

Quantifiable outcome

• 35% of astronaut time currently spent on maintenance tasks
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Aerospace CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted Orbital Robotics at TechCrunch Disrupt Space Stage. Aerospace Corporation runs Space Stage pitch competition for space industry startups.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• D-Orbit: D-Orbit provides in-orbit services including satellite deployment, orbital transportation, and end-of-life services, overlapping with Orbital Robotics' life-extension and on-orbit servicing positioning.
• Motiv Space Systems: Motiv Space Systems develops space-rated robotic arms and manipulators for on-orbit servicing and assembly, competing directly with Orbital Robotics' ORA-Astrosfera product in the space-rated manipulator category.
• Orbit Fab: Orbit Fab is building orbital propellant transfer and refueling infrastructure, directly adjacent to Orbital Robotics' satellite refueling and life extension value proposition. The two companies are already listed as mutual partners, indicating overlapping go-to-market motion toward the same GEO operator customers.
• Astroscale: Astroscale is a direct peer developing on-orbit servicing capabilities including satellite life extension, debris removal, and refueling, with multiple flight missions already completed in LEO. Both companies target the same customer problem of satellite end-of-life and servicing.

Broad incumbents

• MDA Space: MDA Space is a major space robotics incumbent (Canadarm heritage) supplying robotic systems for on-orbit servicing, satellite refueling, and exploration, with both commercial and government customers overlapping Orbital Robotics' target market.
• Northrop Grumman (Mission Extension Vehicle): Northrop Grumman's Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV) is the first commercially operational GEO life-extension servicer, having docked with Intelsat satellites since 2020. It is the dominant incumbent in exactly the GEO life-extension market Orbital Robotics targets.
• Honeybee Robotics: Honeybee Robotics (now part of Blue Origin) builds space-rated robotic systems, drills, and end-effectors for NASA and commercial missions, with overlapping manipulator and on-orbit servicing expertise.

Emerging players

• GITAI: GITAI develops autonomous space-rated robotic systems for on-orbit servicing and assembly tasks, with comparable humanoid and manipulator architectures targeting the same spacecraft servicing market.
• ClearSpace: ClearSpace is developing satellite capture and debris-removal services, including a contracted ESA mission, addressing the same 'valuable satellites becoming space trash' problem Orbital Robotics targets through robotic capture.
• Katalyst Space Technologies: Katalyst Space Technologies is developing on-orbit satellite servicing, including inspection and life extension, targeting a similar GEO operator customer base with comparable robotic servicing approaches.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Orbital Robotics