T-Minus Space Daily: Starfish Space Completes an Autonomous RPO in LEO

Podcast: T-Minus Space Daily
Host: Maria Varmazes (N2K Networks)
Date: December 15, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode spotlights the successful autonomous Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) mission accomplished by Starfish Space in partnership with Impulse Space, a leap for satellite servicing and in-orbit operations. The news briefing rounds up critical updates from across the space industry—highlighting major launches, new partnerships, policy developments, and a deep-dive year-end conversation with Patrick O’Neill from the ISS National Lab.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Starfish Space Achieves Autonomous RPO in Low Earth Orbit

• Segment Start: 01:50

• Starfish Space, working with Impulse Space, executed a fully autonomous RPO mission in LEO (Low Earth Orbit).

• The mission, dubbed “Remora,” was completed with Impulse’s Mira spacecraft, notably using two separate Mira satellites (from the Leo Express 1 and 2 missions).

• The operation showcased precision navigation, relative motion control, and safe close-approach—core capabilities for future satellite servicing and spacecraft inspection.

• Technical Details:

  • The active Mira spacecraft was guided by Starfish’s software to approach within ~1,250 meters of another Mira in orbit.
  • Vision and Autonomy: Continuous imaging (by TRL11’s onboard camera) was processed by Starfish’s Cetacean Computer Vision software, generating real-time relative position estimates.
  • The closed-loop process allowed the spacecraft to compute trajectories and fire thrusters autonomously, updating commands with every new image.

• Host Reaction:

  “Come on. That is super cool and congratulations to both teams and let's hope we see more of these kinds of cool missions in 2026.”
  — Maria Varmazes (04:06)

2. Other Space Industry Updates (News Briefing)

• Segment Start: 04:49

• Rocket Lab’s Milestone JAXA Launch

  • First dedicated mission for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), successfully deploying RAISE 4, an innovative satellite incorporating 8 tech demonstrations from across Japan.

• Mission Space’s Next Payload

  • Mission Space to launch its second on-orbit payload with Rogue Space Systems, plus two more planned for 2026.
  • The strategy expands radiation and space environment monitoring with multi-point, high-resolution data.

  “Another signal that in orbit services are maturing into a scalable business model.”
  — Maria Varmazes (05:44)

• Virgin Galactic & Lawrence Livermore Partnership

  • Aiming to advance high-altitude image capture for both national security and science.
  • Potential plans to fly advanced sensor systems on Virgin Galactic launch vehicles.

• US Space Force & NRO: Diverging Paths

  • Space Force will not partner with the NRO on next-gen surveillance satellites, reflecting diverging strategic goals and acquisition methods.
  • Space Force’s new “RGX” constellation will be acquired from commercial providers, maintaining operational control in-house.

3. ISS National Lab Year-End Recap with Patrick O’Neill

• Segment Start: 10:17

Contract Renewal and Organizational Role

• CASES (Center for the Advancement of Science in Space), managed by Patrick O’Neill’s team, will oversee ISS National Lab through 2030 (the planned end of the station's lifetime).

  “It allows for us to... finish the job where we look at what we have been doing for the better part of 15 years... and now we're really driving demand.”
  — Patrick O’Neill (11:13)

• O’Neill reflects on the transformation—in 2011, few realized the ISS National Lab was open to research from Fortune 500 companies or academia. Now, demand and innovation are at record levels.

  “It's the best of the best of the best science.”
  — Patrick O’Neill (13:38)

2025 Milestones & Initiatives

• Orbital Edge Accelerator Launch: New CASES-run program, supporting a first cohort of start-ups with funding and opportunity to launch projects on ISS.

• Record Payloads: For the third consecutive year, over 100 payloads launched to ISS, including numerous international collaborations (e.g., with the Japanese HTV X1 vehicle).

• Peer-Reviewed Publications: More than 75 new publications emerged from ISS-enabled science in 2025, underscoring the academic and commercial impact.

  “Inside of a payload there can be dozens of projects that are all being looked at…”
  — Patrick O’Neill (15:32)

• Margaritaville Partnership: Unique mission patch created, with proceeds supporting CASIS R&D (noted as a fun and impactful cultural crossover).

Looking Ahead to 2026

• Segment Start: 17:48

  • Multiple resupply missions expected; all “full with great goodies.”

  • Continued growth in in-space production and cancer research—some stemming from NASA’s Igniting Innovation Challenge.

    “You're going to see more of in-space production... projects on the outside of the space station, testing the limits of what it's like to be in an extreme environment like space.”
    — Patrick O’Neill (18:11)

  • Potential new cargo vehicle partnerships on the horizon.

4. Culture & Space: Religious Traditions Beyond Earth

• Segment Start: 19:38

• Maria Varmazes highlights the new documentary, Fiddler on the Moon, about how Judaism (and, by extension, other ancient traditions) might adapt as humans travel to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

  • The film tackles practical challenges—tracking sabbath or holidays with different planetary day/night cycles, maintaining rituals when “Earth is just another tiny point of light.”

• Emphasizes that as humanity ventures further, our traditions and ways of marking humanity’s place in the cosmos will remain vital, adapting as needed for a multi-planetary future.

Notable Quotes

• Maria Varmazes on Starfish’s RPO:

  “Come on. That is super cool and congratulations to both teams and let's hope we see more of these kinds of cool missions in 2026.” (04:06)

• Patrick O’Neill on the ISS Contract Extension:

  “We're excited because obviously we're doing this for the remainder of the program... it allows for us to, quote, unquote, finish the job where we look at what we have been doing for the better part of 15 years in collaboration with our partners at NASA to enable access and opportunity on the space station. And now we're really driving demand.” (11:13)

• Reflection on Research Access:

  “It’s the best of the best of the best science.” (13:38)

• Looking Forward to ISS Science:

  “You're going to see more of in-space production. You're going to see some projects that I think were part of what we had with NASA a couple years ago called the Igniting Innovation Challenge, where we're looking at specifically cancer investigations... projects that will be residing on the outside of the space station, testing the limits of what it's like to be in an extreme environment like space.” (18:11)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Starfish Space Autonomous RPO News: 01:50 – 04:45
• Rocket Lab / Virgin Galactic / US Space Force News: 04:45 – 09:44
• ISS National Lab Interview (Patrick O’Neill): 10:17 – 19:14
• Reflection on Tradition and Space (Fiddler on the Moon Documentary): 19:38 – 24:25

Summary & Takeaway

This episode captures a pivotal moment for autonomous in-orbit operations with Starfish Space’s successful RPO, while chronicling a dynamic year in space innovation—from burgeoning commercial partnerships to the acceleration of science at the ISS National Lab. The conversation with Patrick O’Neill provides context on the rapid evolution of research in space, the growing accessibility for international partners and private ventures, and hints at ambitious projects on the near horizon. The closing culture segment underscores how, even as technology advances, human stories and traditions remain a core part of humanity’s journey beyond Earth.