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Starfish Space to launch first Otter spacecraft for NASA debris inspection mission
Key points
- Starfish Space launching first Otter spacecraft next month.
- Otter will fly on a Falcon 9 Transporter mission.
- NASA funded SSPICY mission for debris inspection.
- Otter to inspect defunct US satellites from hundreds of meters.
First Otter Launch Scheduled
Starfish Space, founded in October 2019, is preparing to launch its first Otter spacecraft next month. The Otter, which has a mass of approximately 350 kg and is about the size of a large washing machine, will be deployed via a Falcon 9 Transporter mission.
NASA Demonstration Mission
The upcoming mission is a demonstration for NASA, designated SSPICY (Small Spacecraft Propulsion and Inspection Capability). During this mission, the Otter spacecraft will approach multiple older, defunct US-owned satellites. It will conduct inspections from within hundreds of meters, collecting data on their spin rates and current conditions.
Commercial Debris Inspection
This initiative represents the first time NASA has provided funding for a commercial debris inspection mission, with the agency paying Starfish Space $15 million for the service. The mission aims to gather crucial information about orbital debris, which is becoming increasingly important with the growing number of satellites in low-Earth orbit.
Addressing Orbital Challenges
Starfish Space co-founders Trevor Bennett and Austin Link, both former Blue Origin engineers, identified the need for better in-space mobility and orbital debris management. Their initial business cases focused on extending the life of large geostationary satellites and managing growing constellations in low-Earth orbit, leading to the development of the Otter vehicle.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
Starfish Space will launch its first Otter spacecraft on a Falcon 9 Transporter mission next month, seven years after the company's founding. The mission, named SSPICY, is a NASA-funded demonstration to inspect defunct US-owned satellites in orbit, marking NASA's first commercial debris inspection mission.