WASHINGTON — Starfish Space has changed plans for a docking demonstration mission after its original partner backed out.
In a March 26 statement, Starfish said it changed the destination for Otter Pup 2, a spacecraft launched in June 2025 to demonstrate the ability to dock with an unprepared satellite.
“In late 2025, Otter Pup 2’s initial docking partner abruptly ceased collaboration on the mission due to circumstances outside of Starfish’s responsibility or control,” the company stated. This happened after Otter Pup 2 completed a series of tests in orbit after launch.
Starfish did not identify the docking partner in the statement. However, before the launch of Otter Pup 2, Starfish said that the spacecraft would attempt to dock with an ION spacecraft from D-Orbit. Both spacecraft were launched together on a SpaceX rideshare mission.
A D-Orbit spokesperson declined to discuss why it decided to no longer cooperate with Starfish Space on the docking demonstration.
“While we remain on good terms with them, we are unfortunately unable to share this information, as it is confidential and covered by a non-disclosure agreement between D-Orbit and Starfish,” the company said in a statement to SpaceNews March 27.
Starfish Space said it contacted “a broad set of alternative docking partners” and ultimately found a new partner, which it said it would disclose later.
“We have now conducted maneuvers to begin Otter Pup 2’s journey to its new docking partner and expect to re-commence rendezvous and proximity operations in the coming months, with a planned docking attempt to follow,” the company stated.
Starfish did not state when it expected that docking attempt to take place. The company said before Otter Pup 2’s June launch it expected a docking attempt with the ION vehicle in the second half of 2025.
Otter Pup 2 is designed to test rendezvous and proximity operations as well as the ability of the spacecraft to dock with a spacecraft that doesn’t have a docking interface. Otter Pup 2 has an electrostatic capture mechanism that can attach to a flat surface on a spacecraft.
Despite the delays in testing Otter Pup 2, Starfish has secured new contracts for its servicing spacecraft. In January, the Space Development Agency awarded the company a $52.5 million contract to deorbit a spacecraft in the agency’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture in 2027.
In February, the company won a $54.5 million contract from the U.S. Space Force to build and operate a spacecraft designed to support military satellites in geostationary Earth orbit. That spacecraft will provide “mobility solutions” for Space Force spacecraft in GEO for five years, including orbital relocation, disposal to graveyard orbits and life extension.