Houston, Texas – NASA has recently awarded a $15 million contract to Starfish Space to develop the Small Spacecraft Propulsion and Inspection Capability (SSPICY) mission. This mission aims to inspect defunct satellites and other space debris in low Earth orbit using Starfish’s Otter spacecraft. Scheduled for launch in 2026, the SSPICY mission is part of NASA’s efforts to address the growing issue of space debris and advance space sustainability.
The Otter spacecraft, at the core of the SSPICY mission, will utilize advanced electric propulsion to navigate close to non-operational satellites and space debris for close-range inspections. These inspections will assess structural conditions, spin rates, surface material integrity, and other key metrics to gather data that could inform future efforts to reduce the risk of catastrophic collisions in orbit.
NASA’s senior technical lead, Bo Naasz, highlighted the mission’s importance in maturing critical technologies for the commercial sector to support satellite servicing and debris disposal. Understanding the physical conditions that lead to spacecraft becoming stranded or defunct in orbit is crucial as space becomes more crowded with satellites, increasing the risk of collisions that could impact operational spacecraft and space missions.
The SSPICY mission is part of a larger initiative to tackle the challenge of orbital debris, which poses a significant risk to operational spacecraft and astronauts in Earth’s orbit. These defunct satellites and debris fragments result from years of space activity and without intervention, could reach a point where space missions become too hazardous to conduct in the future.
In collaboration with NASA, Starfish Space envisions a future where satellite servicing, maintenance, and assembly become standard practices to maximize the lifespan of satellites and minimize debris creation from defunct spacecraft. The data gathered from the SSPICY mission’s inspections will play a crucial role in advancing technologies for debris removal, satellite servicing, and potentially enabling spacecraft to be repaired or repurposed autonomously in orbit.
NASA’s increasing focus on space sustainability and debris mitigation aligns with the challenges posed by an increasingly congested orbital environment. The SSPICY mission will serve as a proof-of-concept for future debris management technologies, ensuring a safe environment for exploration and commercial activities in space. With the expected launch of the mission in late 2026, NASA and Starfish Space are taking crucial steps towards a more sustainable, serviceable, and reusable future for satellite operations.
