KentStarfish Space’s first Otter launches next month on Falcon 9.
It is the first commercial debris inspection mission the US space agency has funded, at $15 million.
Otter will approach defunct US satellites to within hundreds of metres, gathering data on spin rates and condition.
The 2023 Otter Pup 1 lost a thruster after its launch vehicle ejected it spinning at 330 degrees per second.
Five more Otters are in production to demonstrate docking, de-orbiting and life extension.
How each outlet framed it
- Ars Technica
- emphasizes software and maneuvering tech focus over hardware; highlights recovery from 330-rpm spin failure and iterative progress
Sources: Ars Technica