Starfish gets a second satellite servicing contract from Pentagon
The orbital tug startup Starfish has now won a second major satellite servicing contract from the military to use its Otter tug to either service or de-orbit defunct military satellites.
The first contract, announced in late January, was from the Space Force’s Space Development Agency (SDA) for $52.5 million. Under that deal, Starfish would fly an Otter in 2027 to dock with a satellite and then de-orbit it.
The new contract, announced February 7, 2026, is with the Pentagon’s APFIT program, designed to encourage “innovative technologies”. It is for an additional $54.5 million, and calls for Otter to dock with a satellite in 2028 and service it rather than de-orbit it.
The Otter is designed to autonomously dock with and maneuver national security satellites, maximizing their operational capabilities while supporting SSC’s [Space Systems Command] need for sustained space maneuver. The spacecraft leverages autonomous rendezvous, proximity operations, and docking technology, allowing it to service satellites that were not originally designed for servicing.
As I noted in January when the first de-orbit contract was announced, while a number of contracts have been issued in the U.S., Europe, and Japan to demonstrate de-orbit technology, that was the first operational de-orbit contract. As for servicing, Northrop Grumman has already succeeded several times in prolonging the life of defunct commercial geosynchronous satellites with its Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV).
Starfish’s Otter however has only successfully demonstrated rendezvous and proximity capabilities on two missions, with a third a failure. As for docking, its Otter Pup tug has flown two missions, with the first failing in 2023 when both spacecraft began spinning unexpected. The second mission is presently ongoing, and was supposed to achieve a docking by now. After completing rendezvous maneuvers in September Starfish has provided no new updates. As far as we know, the docking never occurred or was a failure.
These contracts however suggest it has succeeded. Why else would the military suddenly issue more than $100 million in contracts to the company?
The orbital tug startup Starfish has now won a second major satellite servicing contract from the military to use its Otter tug to either service or de-orbit defunct military satellites.
The first contract, announced in late January, was from the Space Force’s Space Development Agency (SDA) for $52.5 million. Under that deal, Starfish would fly an Otter in 2027 to dock with a satellite and then de-orbit it.
The new contract, announced February 7, 2026, is with the Pentagon’s APFIT program, designed to encourage “innovative technologies”. It is for an additional $54.5 million, and calls for Otter to dock with a satellite in 2028 and service it rather than de-orbit it.
The Otter is designed to autonomously dock with and maneuver national security satellites, maximizing their operational capabilities while supporting SSC’s [Space Systems Command] need for sustained space maneuver. The spacecraft leverages autonomous rendezvous, proximity operations, and docking technology, allowing it to service satellites that were not originally designed for servicing.
As I noted in January when the first de-orbit contract was announced, while a number of contracts have been issued in the U.S., Europe, and Japan to demonstrate de-orbit technology, that was the first operational de-orbit contract. As for servicing, Northrop Grumman has already succeeded several times in prolonging the life of defunct commercial geosynchronous satellites with its Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV).
Starfish’s Otter however has only successfully demonstrated rendezvous and proximity capabilities on two missions, with a third a failure. As for docking, its Otter Pup tug has flown two missions, with the first failing in 2023 when both spacecraft began spinning unexpected. The second mission is presently ongoing, and was supposed to achieve a docking by now. After completing rendezvous maneuvers in September Starfish has provided no new updates. As far as we know, the docking never occurred or was a failure.
These contracts however suggest it has succeeded. Why else would the military suddenly issue more than $100 million in contracts to the company?
