Starfish Space has announced a significant contract worth $52.5 million with the U.S. Space Force’s Space Development Agency, marking a milestone in satellite management. This contract is noted as the first commercial engagement for providing “deorbit-as-a-service” (DaaS) aimed at military satellites, specifically within the Pentagon’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture.
Set to commence in 2027, the service will involve Starfish's innovative spacecraft, called Otter, designed to capture and deorbit satellites safely. Unlike traditional methods requiring operational propulsion systems, Otter provides flexibility by not necessitating specialized hardware on the target satellites, thus reducing the risk of creating space debris.
Co-founder Trevor Bennett emphasized that this service is a validated operational solution rather than a research initiative, allowing for scalability across the industry. He likened Otter's function to that of a tow truck, offering a necessary service to manage satellites at the end of their operational lifespan without disrupting regular satellite operations.