DEPLOYDatabase

Robot model

Otter

Small autonomous satellite-servicing vehicle (space tug) using electrostatic/Nautilus capture and CETACEAN autonomous-navigation software.

Manufacturer
Starfish Space
Form factor
space
Maturity
pilot
Lifecycle
active
Deployments
1

The verified answer

As of Sep 2026, DEPLOY verifies Otter, a space by Starfish Space (pilot): 1 verified deployment on record. 2 sources back the record.

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Track Otter on Deploy.

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Key facts

Robot

Autonomous Otter servicing vehicle for satellites

Technology

CETACEAN autonomy software

Focus

Satellite servicing

Country

US

Specs

Role

satellite servicing

Autonomy

CETACEAN autonomous nav + capture

Data & sources

Web sources

2

2 sources backing this record.View all →

Pricing

No verified price is on record for Otter. Physical-AI systems are often sold through enterprise contracts or operated as a service rather than at a public list price.

Deployments (1)

  • The Otter Pup demonstration mission in low Earth Orbit involved an orbital rendezvous between Starfish Space's Otter and D-Orbit, which was completed to close out the mission.

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Otter on the deployment map

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Where Otter is verified operating. Explore the deployment map by place and type.

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Recent activity

Every change to this record is dated, sourced, and independently verified where marked.

Full change history →

Deployment-verified media (1)

PRIMARY SOURCE
Courtesy of Starfish Space

Starfish Space's overview of its Otter Pup orbital-servicing demonstration, a small satellite servicer with electric propulsion and autonomous rendezvous and docking. Demo-stage: Otter Pup 1 suffered an early tumbling anomaly that was recovered, and full commercial docking has not yet been demonstrated.

From deployment: Low Earth Orbit

Safety record

No incidents on record for Otter.

Only active incidents are counted. Retracted incidents are excluded from this summary but remain reachable at their canonical URLs.

Sources (2)

  1. https://www.starfishspace.com/press-release/starfish-space-unveils-otter-pup-2-mission/
  2. https://www.starfishspace.com/the-otter/

Common questions

What is Otter?
Small autonomous satellite-servicing vehicle (space tug) using electrostatic/Nautilus capture and CETACEAN autonomous-navigation software.
How much does Otter cost?
Otter's price is not publicly disclosed. DEPLOY has no verified price on record for Otter from Starfish Space. Physical-AI systems like this are often sold through enterprise contracts or operated as a service rather than at a public list price; check the manufacturer for the latest.
Is Otter actually deployed in the real world?
Yes. Otter is independently verified in real-world operation on the DEPLOY registry, confirmed at named deployment sites with primary sources: not a concept, render, or demo-only.
Who makes Otter?
Otter is made by Starfish Space, based in Tukwila, Washington, USA, founded in 2018.
Where is Otter deployed?
1 verified deployment of Otter is on the DEPLOY registry, including at Low Earth Orbit.
Can you buy Otter?
Otter is in pilot deployments with named customers and is not yet broadly for sale.
What are alternatives to Otter?
On the DEPLOY registry, comparable space robots to Otter include Chang'e Lander, Mira, W-Series Capsule, spacevan.
How does Otter compare to Chang'e Lander?
Otter and Chang'e Lander (China National Space Administration · 4 deployments) are both space robots on the DEPLOY registry. Otter has 1 verified deployment on record. Compare both records for specs, safety, deployments, and verified-vs-claimed autonomy.
Is Otter a top space?
On DEPLOY's intelligence score, which blends verified deployments, safety, adoption, media, and IP signals, Otter ranks in roughly the top 36% of space models tracked by the registry.
What is Otter's maturity stage?
Otter is at the pilot stage on the DEPLOY maturity ladder (research, prototype, pilot, commercial, production). Pilot stage means at least one named-customer trial deployment is verified.
Is Otter safe?
Otter has no incidents on record in the DEPLOY registry. This does not constitute a safety guarantee; it reflects the incidents DEPLOY has tracked and verified to date.
Methodology: Verified · 2 sources (no primary) · last reviewed 2026-07-12

Verification posture

Verified

Low confidence

Review state

Stable

Last reviewed 2026-07-12

Maturity + lifecycle

Maturity stage: pilot

Lifecycle: active

Architectural position

Cohort: space

Sources by quality tier

2
unclassified
Unclassified source

The framework is documented at /methodology. Corrections at /corrections. Reviewer: DEPLOY editorial team.

Methodology surface for Otter.

Recent coverage

Otter in third-party press