Wave Motion team standing next to a jet-gun prototype . Left to right , CFO Casey Dunn , CEO Finn van Donkelaar , COO James Penna
A mockup of Starfish Space ’ s Otter Pup spacecraft is unveiled at Seattle ’ s Museum of Flight . ( GeekWire Photo / Alan Boyle )
Max Ismailov , Founder and CEO of Rocket Propulsion Systems , is joined by Michael Preudhomme – Propulsion Engineer [ left ] and Macey – COO [ right ]
Another space startup , Starfish Space , recently revealed their plan for satellite docking . Starfish Space ’ s Otter Pup is launching in June 2023 and is going to dock with another satellite on-orbit . The xenon-fueled electric propulsion craft will hitch a ride on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket , going up with Launcher ’ s Space Orbiter OTV . Once it is launched from the Orbiter , the Otter Pup will use Starfish Space ’ s proprietary satellite docking technologies to perform the first-ever satellite docking with electric propulsion .
“ Bringing two objects gently together while in orbit is incredibly difficult !” said Starfish Space Co-Founder Austin Link . “ With the Otter Pup docking , we prove technologies that pave the way for satellite life extension , space debris removal , and eventually on-orbit upgrades , assembly , manufacturing , and more .”
James Burk leads Space Northwest , an organization with a mission to connect , educate and inspire individuals , corporations and communities in the Pacific Northwest and beyond to foster space innovation and exploration for the benefit of life on Earth and our future in space .
James says , “ Washington State has a huge opportunity now to become a globally-leading center for space . Our region already has a deep history with aviation technology and we are the current leader in satellite manufacturing .
Rocket Propulsion Systems , another member of our space startup community , has completed its first “ Centurion ” rocket engine prototype for small satellite space launch vehicles . The engine is designed to operate on clean burning liquid oxygen and liquid methane propellants , producing 3,300 pounds of thrust . The engine features a fuel-rich staged combustion cycle giving it the ability to perform at high specific impulse , reliability , reusability and scalability to future higher thrust levels . RPS partners with NSF , AFRL Edwards , USSF Threat Reduction Agency , NASA Marshall , NASA Stennis , Reaction Dynamics , Purdue and other distinguished space industry experts .
The state is also fortunate to have leaders in the space community that are convening and sharing information about how Washington can continue to be an important hub for space exploration .
FEBRUARY | MARCH 2023 ISSUE NO . 31 39