Otter
A small servicing spacecraft that docks with satellites never designed to be serviced, then extends their life, moves them, or drags them out of orbit. The first one was scheduled to launch no earlier than October 2026.
Why it matters
Operators want to keep valuable satellites working longer and to clear dead ones out of useful orbits. A small, cheaper servicer that can latch on adds years of life for operators like SES and gives the military a way to move or dispose of its own satellites.
How the technology works
Otter uses electric propulsion and autonomous guidance software that navigates by camera, plus a docking mechanism, Nautilus, that grips a client without special fixtures. Booked work includes a geostationary life-extension mission first signed with Intelsat, a Space Force GEO vehicle due for delivery in 2028, a Space Development Agency disposal mission in low orbit targeting 2027, and a NASA inspection mission.