Impulse Space vs Starfish Space: Servicing & tugs compared

November 2026 edition · assessment by Frontier Tech Intelligence

Impulse Space ranks 35 on the Space 100 with a score of 78; Starfish Space ranks 58 with 72. Impulse Space is ahead on deployment, production and commercials. Level on progress, technology, positioning, firepower and leverage. Impulse Space is based in El Segundo, United States, Starfish Space in United States. Starfish Space: Early. Impulse Space is named in 49 signals and Starfish Space in 17.

Impulse Space →

El Segundo, California, United States · Space · Satellites & spacecraft / Servicing & tugs · impulsespace.com

Impulse Space builds and operates Mira orbital transfer vehicles that deliver payloads to precise orbits and support rendezvous, satellite servicing and refueling missions.

Space 100 · rank 35 · score 78

Scores, Space (of 10)

Deployment7
Production6
Commercials6
Progress10
Technology8
Positioning8
Firepower8
Leverage8

Darker bar: ahead of the other company on that measure.

Positioning

Impulse Space is a US in-space-mobility company (founded by SpaceX's Tom Mueller) whose Mira orbital transfer vehicles have flown commercially since 2023, with a Helios high-energy kick stage (GEO-direct) in development, and it supplies Vast's Haven-1 propulsion. It was admitted to NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 in July 2026 (a first for orbital transportation), making it the in-space mobility category leader. Revenue is estimated at 10-100m (a $500M raise in 2026).

Latest signals

  • Infinite Orbits secured four firm launch contracts for Impulse Space OTV missions on Falcon 9 rockets through 2029.Space Intel Report
  • Impulse Space raises $308M Series D extension, bringing total round to $808MPayload
  • Impulse Space’s Mira orbital transfer vehicle can deliver up to 300 kilograms of payload to precise orbital locations.Space.com

49 signals name Impulse Space.

Facts, with sources

  • Closed bookings for first Caravan rideshare mission scheduled for the first half of 2027SpaceNews
  • Cicada payload tested aboard Impulse Space’s Mira orbital transfer vehicle launched on SpaceX Transporter rideshareSpaceNews
  • Total Series D round including extensionwww.powerelectronicsnews.com — 2026-09-17

41 facts on file.

Starfish Space →

United States · Space · Satellites & spacecraft / Servicing & tugs · Early · starfishspace.com

Starfish Space builds autonomous spacecraft tugs for in-orbit docking, satellite servicing and life extension, flown on U.S. Space Force missions.

Space 100 · rank 58 · score 72

Scores, Space (of 10)

Deployment5
Production4
Commercials4
Progress10
Technology8
Positioning8
Firepower8
Leverage8

Darker bar: ahead of the other company on that measure.

Positioning

Starfish Space is a US satellite-servicing company (ex-Blue Origin founders) with three demonstration missions flown (Otter Pup 1 and 2 RPO, and Remora with Impulse, a December 2025 autonomous approach to ~1,250m with no human in the loop), and its first operational Otters launching in 2026 for SES, NASA, and the US Space Force. It holds the servicing category's contract stack: a $52.5M SDA award (January 2026, the first-ever contracted end-of-life disposal for a LEO constellation), a $54.5M USSF GEO vehicle, and an Intelsat life-extension contract, though it has not yet performed a commercial docking. It raised a $110M Series B (April 2026, Point72-led, >$150M total).

Latest signals

  • Starfish Space to launch debut Otter satellite servicing vehicle on SpaceX Transporter-18 missionVia Satellite
  • Impulse Space, Starfish Space, and HEO collaborated on imaging the Mira rendezvous.Space.com
  • Joanna Hon joined Starfish Space as an engineer.Payload

17 signals name Starfish Space.

Facts, with sources

  • GEO life-extension missions using servicers from SpaceLogistics, Starfish Space and Infinite OrbitsSpaceNews
  • Collaborated with Impulse Space and HEO on imaging the Mira rendezvousSpace.com
  • [object Object]SpaceNews

11 facts on file.

More comparisons

Questions this page answers

Impulse Space or Starfish Space: which is ahead in space?

Impulse Space ranks 35 on the Space 100 with a score of 78; Starfish Space ranks 58 with 72. Impulse Space is ahead on deployment, production and commercials. Level on progress, technology, positioning, firepower and leverage. Impulse Space is based in El Segundo, United States, Starfish Space in United States. Starfish Space: Early. Impulse Space is named in 49 signals and Starfish Space in 17.

How do Impulse Space and Starfish Space compare?

Impulse Space ranks 35 on the Space 100 with a score of 78; Starfish Space ranks 58 with 72. Impulse Space is ahead on deployment, production and commercials. Level on progress, technology, positioning, firepower and leverage. Impulse Space is based in El Segundo, United States, Starfish Space in United States. Starfish Space: Early. Impulse Space is named in 49 signals and Starfish Space in 17. Both company files carry the scores on eight measures, the facts with sources and the latest signals.

Every comparison here comes from the same files members use every day.

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