Space exploration doesn’t have to cost a fortune—and two trailblazing startups are proving it. In a move that’s quietly shaking up the industry, in-space transportation is undergoing a revolution, unlocking possibilities we’ve only dreamed of. But here’s where it gets fascinating: earlier this year, a California-based company called Impulse Space launched a small spacecraft named Mira aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, alongside a stack of other satellites. Once in orbit, Mira, an orbital transfer vehicle, deployed several CubeSats and showcased its prowess with a series of high-thrust maneuvers. This wasn’t its first rodeo—Mira had flown before, and Impulse was eager to push its limits further.
But this is the part most people miss: something unusual happened this summer. Impulse handed over control of Mira to another company, Starfish Space, which had installed its own software on the spacecraft. Eric Romo, Impulse Space’s president and COO, admitted it felt surreal. ‘I’d walk past mission control, see our teams collaborating, and jokingly say, ‘Hey, don’t crash the spaceship, please,’ he recalled. ‘It was definitely uncharted territory.’ Yet, Starfish Space didn’t just avoid disaster—they took Mira’s camera for a spin, piloting the spacecraft with a clear purpose.
Founded in 2019, Starfish Space aims to build budget-friendly spacecraft capable of servicing satellites in orbit, extending their lifespans with propulsion and other support. Their goal with Mira? Demonstrate that a single lightweight camera system, paired with advanced guidance software, could autonomously rendezvous with another spacecraft. The target? Impulse’s very first Mira spacecraft, launched in November 2023. Though that older vehicle lacks propellant, its solar panels still gather enough energy to communicate with engineers in California.
And this is where it gets controversial: is this the future of space collaboration, or a risky gamble? As startups like Impulse and Starfish Space redefine what’s possible on a shoestring budget, they’re also challenging traditional norms of ownership and control in orbit. Could this model pave the way for a more democratized space economy, or does it introduce new vulnerabilities? Let’s spark the debate—what do you think? Are we witnessing the dawn of a new era, or playing with fire?
