Worker Bee
Space tug that moves satellites into their orbits
TransAstra
Los Angeles company building gear for moving and cleaning up objects in space: a sunlight-heated thruster for a space tug, an inflatable bag that captures debris, and telescopes and software that spot faint objects. Its long-term aim is mining asteroids for fuel.
No priced equity round was found in public sources. TransAstra is a Y Combinator alum and has won several NASA and Defense Department research contracts.
Products, by altitude
Earth to Moon · 35,786–384,400 km
In development ![]()
Low Earth orbit · 160–2,000 km
In development ![]()
Capture Bag
Inflatable bag that wraps and secures space junk
In development ![]()
Omnivore thruster
Thruster that heats propellant with focused sunlight
On the ground · 0 km · Earth’s surface
In service Sutter telescope system
Telescopes that spot faint asteroids and space debris
Government awards
| Date | Agency | Program | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2023 | NASA | SBIR Ignite Phase II (Capture Bag prototype and ground demonstration) | $850K1 |
Milestones
Sources
Updated Oct 22, 2026 · How we source facts · Suggest a correction