NASA’s SSPICY mission (Small Spacecraft Propulsion and Inspection Capability) is a technology demo aimed at one of the hottest topics in modern space operations: in‑orbit servicing and orbital debris mitigation.
At the heart of the mission is Starfish Space’s Otter 24C spacecraft, roughly the size of a washing machine and built on small‑sat / CubeSat heritage. Launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base, Otter will rendezvous with up to four inactive U.S. objects in low Earth orbit, including defunct satellites and rocket bodies.
How Otter 24C operates
Starting in early 2027, Otter 24C will autonomously navigate to within a few hundred yards of each target. The mission integrates several critical technologies:
- Autonomous guidance, navigation, and control with minimal ground intervention;
- Computer vision and onboard sensors for real‑time relative navigation decisions;
- Detailed inspection of target spin rate, attitude, and surface condition.
An electric propulsion system provides the delta‑v to move between objects. An articulating robotic boom allows the spacecraft to gimbal its thrusters and demonstrate precise maneuvering and orbit changes without docking.
Importantly, SSPICY is non‑contact: Otter will not touch or dock with any satellite. Instead, it validates the sensing, navigation, and propulsion stack needed for future missions that will repair, refuel, or safely deorbit hardware by guiding it into Earth’s atmosphere.
Why it matters
Dead satellites and spent rocket stages can fragment or collide, generating debris clouds from large chunks down to tiny particles. With thousands of new spacecraft launched every year, keeping low Earth orbit safe is becoming critical infrastructure work.
SSPICY is the first time these capabilities are flown together as an integrated system. Funded by NASA’s Small Spacecraft and Distributed Systems program and matured via SBIR/STTR awards to Starfish Space, the mission is a key stepping stone toward routine, autonomous inspection and servicing in orbit.
Source: NASA
