Starfish Space

Tukwila, United States

Founded 2019

About Starfish Space

Starfish Space is a Tukwila, Washington-based company developing autonomous satellite servicing solutions for satellite life extension, recovery, and debris removal in Earth orbit. Founded in 2019 by Austin Link and Dr. Trevor Bennett, both former Blue Origin engineers, the company is building the Otter spacecraft, a versatile orbital servicing vehicle capable of docking with and maneuvering satellites across various orbital regimes. Starfish Space has raised over $50 million in total funding, including a $29 million round in November 2024 led by Shield Capital with participation from Point72 Ventures, Booz Allen Ventures, Aero X Ventures, Trousdale Ventures, TRAC VC, Munich Re Ventures, Toyota Ventures, NFX, and Industrious Ventures. The company has secured significant government and commercial contracts including a $37.5 million US Space Force contract for a first-of-its-kind mission to dock with and maneuver national security assets in geostationary Earth orbit, a contract with Intelsat for on-orbit life extension services beginning in 2026, and a $15 million NASA mission to inspect multiple defunct US-owned satellites starting in 2027. In October 2024, Starfish was awarded an NRO contract for satellite servicing mission concept studies. The first three Otter vehicles are scheduled for launch in 2026, demonstrating the companys rapid progression from startup to operational space servicing provider. Starfish represents the emerging in-space servicing industry that promises to transform how satellites are maintained and managed throughout their operational lifetimes.