Tukwila, Washington-based Starfish Space, along with two other companies, has been awarded contracts by the National Reconnaissance Office to assess advanced technologies for space operations. Starfish Space will be focusing on the potential applications of its Otter spacecraft, which is designed to inspect and connect with other satellites in orbit for servicing or disposal. This collaboration is seen as a valuable opportunity to enhance the national space-based intelligence infrastructure, according to a statement from Starfish Space.
The contracts were awarded under the terms of the BALISTA program by the NRO’s Office of Space Launch. This program aims to advance emerging technologies across launch, on-orbit support, and command and control. The other two companies awarded BALISTA contracts are Texas-based Cognitive Space, which is developing automated tools for satellite operations with the help of artificial intelligence, and California-based Impulse Space, which is working on in-space transportation services for satellites. The full value of the contracts has not been disclosed.
Founded in 2019 by Trevor Bennett and Austin Link, both former employees of Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, Starfish Space tested a scaled-down prototype of its Otter spacecraft, known as Otter Pup, during an orbital demonstration mission last year. Despite facing challenging circumstances, the mission lasted for months. Starfish also signed a $37.5 million deal with the U.S. Space Force for a first-of-its-kind mission involving the full-scale Otter docking and maneuvering with national security assets in geostationary Earth orbit.
In addition to its work with the U.S. Space Force, Starfish Space has signed a contract with Intelsat to provide on-orbit life extension services to a geostationary satellite beginning in 2026. The company has also been tasked with a $15 million NASA mission to inspect multiple U.S.-owned defunct satellites in orbit starting in 2027. This highlights Starfish’s growing role in the space industry and its expertise in servicing and extending the life of satellites in orbit.
The other BALISTA contract recipients, Cognitive Space and Impulse Space, are also making significant advancements in the space industry. Cognitive Space is focusing on developing AI tools for automating satellite operations, while Impulse Space, founded by SpaceX’s first employee Tom Mueller, is working on in-space transportation services for satellites. These companies, along with Starfish Space, represent the cutting edge of technology and innovation in the space sector, with a particular focus on advancing satellite operations and space exploration.
Overall, the contracts awarded by the National Reconnaissance Office to Starfish Space, Cognitive Space, and Impulse Space represent a significant step forward in the development of advanced space technologies. The collaboration between these companies and the NRO will help drive innovation in launch, on-orbit support, and command and control of satellites. With their respective expertise in satellite servicing, AI automation, and in-space transportation, these companies are poised to make a lasting impact on the future of space operations and exploration.
