Starfish Space’s Otter Pup 2 is now operating autonomously at distances as close as 25 metres from ElaraSat, the satellite built by Gilmour Space Technologies. ElaraSat carries a Frond MICRO dragsail, stowed and ready to deploy at the end of the satellite’s life.
Starfish released imagery captured when the two spacecraft were 33.6 metres apart. Throughout the campaign, Otter Pup 2 has flown precise close-range manoeuvres, gathered detailed imagery and tested the capabilities it will need for docking.
With this work, Otter Pup 2 has completed Characterize, the penultimate phase of its mission. One phase remains: an attempt to dock.
It is a privilege to have a Frond system on a mission that is pushing in-space servicing forward. Congratulations to the Starfish Space and Gilmour Space teams.
Source: Starfish Space, 1 November 2026.