Safeguarding the Cosmos with On-Orbit Intelligence

In the increasingly congested and strategically vital expanse of Earth’s orbits, the need for proactive space domain awareness, in-space servicing, and active space security has become paramount. Leading the charge in this critical frontier is Space Machines Company (SMC), an Australian-headquartered firm rapidly establishing itself as a key provider of orbital logistics and on-orbit services. Their journey is defined by a bold vision to make space resilience “inevitable, everywhere, always,” driven by innovative autonomous vehicles designed to inspect, monitor, assist, and protect vital space assets.

A Vision for Orbital Roadside Assistance

Space Machines Company was founded in 2019 by entrepreneurs Rajat Kulshrestha and George Freney. Rajat Kulshrestha, an aerospace engineer with extensive experience in various CTO and CEO roles, along with Freney, conceived the idea of building an autonomous Orbital Servicing Vehicle (OSV) to provide what they describe as “roadside assistance in space.” This foundational concept was born from the recognition that as more satellites populate Earth’s orbits, the challenges of managing space traffic, extending satellite lifespans, and addressing potential threats would become increasingly complex.

From its earliest days, SMC has been dedicated to developing sovereign space transportation capabilities for Australia, aiming to cost-effectively deploy satellites into various orbital regimes, including Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), Geostationary Orbit (GEO), and even cis-lunar space. Their mission is driven by a commitment to safeguarding space for all, focusing on allied proliferation and developing intelligent, mass-produced systems that enhance space security.

Optimus: The Pioneering On-Orbit Servicing Vehicle

At the heart of Space Machines Company’s offerings is the Optimus platform, their inaugural Orbital Servicing Vehicle. Optimus is designed to be a versatile in-space asset, capable of performing a range of crucial services:

• Space Transportation: Deploying spacecraft into their intended orbits and providing payload hosting services.
• In-Space Services: This encompasses vital capabilities such as asset inspection, refueling and life extension for existing satellites, active space debris removal, and general spacecraft servicing.
• Exploration Services: Supporting scientific and commercial missions to lunar and beyond.

In March 2024, SMC successfully launched its first Optimus OSV on SpaceX’s Transporter-10 RideShare Mission aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. This marked a significant milestone as Australia’s largest private satellite launched to date. While the company later lost communication with this inaugural spacecraft, the launch itself demonstrated their capability to deploy a large-scale private satellite and validated key technologies. The Optimus OSV is equipped with Advanced Navigation’s Boreas X90, a space-grade digital fiber-optic gyroscope (DFOG) inertial navigation system, crucial for precise orbital maneuvers and satellite docking.

Optimus Viper: Rapid Response for Space Security

Building on the lessons learned from their initial Optimus mission, Space Machines Company unveiled Optimus Viper in December 2024. This rapid-response spacecraft variant is specifically designed to provide immediate, high-fidelity intelligence and protection for critical space assets.

Optimus Viper represents a fundamental shift in space security architecture. It’s an agile, 200-kilogram class “space first responder” capable of deploying within 24 hours of launch and operating within 10 kilometers of target satellites. According to Manufacturers’ Monthly, Optimus Viper combines enhanced autonomous capabilities with Solstice OS, Space Machines’ AI-driven orbital operating system, to deliver a dynamic and adaptive space presence. This platform’s multi-mission flexibility allows for rapid reconfiguration for different objectives, from detailed space domain awareness to precise orbital monitoring.

A significant aspect of Optimus Viper is its economic model. As reported by Asia Pacific Defence Reporter, SMC is introducing commercial pricing for proximity inspection at $2-3 million USD per inspection in LEO, a fraction of the tens of millions it can currently cost. This aims to democratize access to advanced space security for both government and commercial operators. SMC plans to expand its Australian manufacturing capabilities to produce Optimus Viper Rapid Response Vehicles (RRV) at speed and scale, aiming for a production cost that is 1/10th of current capabilities, making distributed space security financially viable.

Strategic Partnerships and Global Expansion

Space Machines Company’s growth trajectory is characterized by strategic partnerships and a clear focus on international collaboration, particularly within the Indo-Pacific region and with allied nations.

• Space MAITRI Mission (Australia-India Partnership): SMC is spearheading the Space MAITRI (Mission for Australia-India’s Technology, Research and Innovation) mission, a significant collaborative effort. In April 2024, the Australian Government awarded SMC more than $8.5 million for this project. As reported by the Times of India, this mission involves an Australian-built Orbital Servicing Vehicle launched from India, aiming to demonstrate advanced concepts such as on-orbit transportation and space debris mitigation. The second Optimus spacecraft, a 450kg satellite and the largest Australian-designed and built spacecraft so far, is slated for a dedicated launch aboard NewSpace India Limited’s (NSIL) Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) in 2026. This mission also involves key Indian partners like Ananth Technologies (for assembly, integration, and testing) and Digantara (for space operations and traffic management).
• Lúnasa Partnership (UK Collaboration): In December 2024, SMC signed a strategic partnership agreement with UK-based Lúnasa, an In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) technology developer. This collaboration, highlighted by Lot Fourteen, will see Lúnasa deploy its inaugural mission as part of SMC’s second Optimus satellite launch through the Space MAITRI mission. The partnership aims to advance in-orbit capabilities and address the global issue of space debris, leveraging Lúnasa’s StarLogic’ Rendezvous Proximity Operations (RPO) sensor payload.
• Defence Trailblazer Funding: In February 2025, a Defence Trailblazer collaborative project led by SMC received funding to develop space-borne perception and intelligence technology for space domain awareness. This project, as reported by Defence Trailblazer, aims to create a ground-based proximity operations robotic testbed for on-orbit servicing, Space Control, and space-based space domain awareness (SBSDA) applications. The initiative involves partnerships with the University of Adelaide, Scarlet Lab, and the Defence Science Technology Group.

In-Space Servicing and Space Domain Awareness (SDA)

SMC’s core capabilities directly address the growing need for enhanced space situational awareness (SSA) and in-space servicing. Their Optimus platforms are designed to:

• Inspect and Monitor: Provide high-resolution imagery and detailed intelligence about critical space infrastructure, even at close proximity (less than 10km), to assess asset conditions and identify potential issues. This goes beyond simple tracking to active intelligence gathering.
• Life Extension and Refueling: The potential for refueling and life extension services for satellites is a crucial long-term goal, enabling operators to prolong the operational life of their assets and maximize their investment.
• Space Debris Removal: As a growing threat to sustainable space operations, SMC is actively involved in demonstrating advanced concepts for space debris mitigation and potentially removal, as seen with the Space MAITRI mission.
• Active Deterrence and Protection: Optimus Viper is explicitly designed for proactive risk mitigation, providing immediate support during security incidents, assessing adversarial capabilities, and acting as a deterrent through close-proximity operations. This contributes directly to “space control” capabilities for allied nations.

Manufacturing and Future Vision

To support its ambitious goals, Space Machines Company is investing in expanding its manufacturing capabilities. In June 2025, Space Connect reported that SMC is set to significantly expand its base at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) to create what it claims will be Australia’s largest industrial-scale spacecraft manufacturing facility. This new facility will be capable of producing five next-generation Viper spacecraft simultaneously and aims to scale to 20 Vipers per year, with multiple spacecraft production targeted for early 2026. This co-investment, supporting future Defence requirements, will bolster national security and commercial applications.

Space Machines Company’s vision is deeply rooted in safeguarding space for future generations. By focusing on sovereign capabilities, allied proliferation, and cost-effective, mass-produced on-orbit services, they are not just building spacecraft; they are building an ecosystem of resilience and security in the ultimate high ground. Their commitment to transforming space operations from reactive to proactive, ensuring the longevity of space assets, and contributing to the sustainability of the orbital environment positions them as a pivotal force in the evolving defense and commercial space sectors. As the cosmos becomes more contested and congested, Space Machines Company’s role in delivering “roadside assistance in space” and advanced orbital intelligence will be increasingly vital.