Starfish Space STRATFI

Starfish Space is developing Otter, an ESPA-class vehicle capable of autonomous rendezvous, proximity operations, and docking (RPOD) and conjoined maneuver of assets in all orbits. Otter utilizes Starfish's core proprietary technology to unlock affordable, available satellite servicing. These technologies, CEPHALOPOD (guidance and control software), CETACEAN (navigation software), Nautilus (docking mechanism), and Manta (articulating boom for thrust and communications), enables Otter to dock with and service unprepared clients, meaning clients do not need to install any hardware such as a docking plate or fiducial marker.  In this effort, Starfish will collaborate with DOD stakeholders to qualify the commercial Otter design for DAF missions, develop the CONOPS for a particular mission, and ultimately conduct that mission to provide operational value for the DOD. Through the STRATFI’s private and Government matching commitments, the Space Force achieves 4:1 leverage on its investment to signal the importance of Servicing, Mobility, and Logistics (SML) and provide such capabilities at a low cost relative to the value and timeline of delivery. With substantial private and government funding commitments under the STRATFI dual-use matching guidelines, Starfish will build, launch, and provide approximately two years of on-orbit operations with an Otter vehicle over a four-year STRATFI effort.  The first two years of the effort will consist of the (1) mission design (2) vehicle build, assembly, integration, and test and (3) vehicle launch to GEO, leaving another two years for the Otter to commission and perform on-orbit operations. It is also expected that there will remain some residual capability beyond the STRATFI period of performance. Leaders in SSC/AATS, SSC/COMSO, SSC/SZI, and Space RCO have expressed interest in utilizing this residual capability.