What the Company Does

Kurs Orbital develops the guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) technologies and integrated hardware/software systems that allow one spacecraft to approach, rendezvous with, and dock or capture another object in orbit. These capabilities are foundational to a wide range of emerging space activities, including:

• Life extension of existing satellites through refueling or servicing
• Removal of space debris and defunct satellites
• In-orbit assembly of larger structures
• Inspection of spacecraft and orbital assets
• Cargo delivery and logistics operations in orbit

The core challenge the company addresses is the difficulty and risk associated with two objects safely meeting and connecting in the demanding environment of space, where relative velocities, lighting conditions, and the absence of GPS at higher orbits make precision maneuvering extremely complex. Kurs Orbital's approach centers on autonomy, reducing the reliance on ground control and human operators during the most delicate phases of a mission.

Products and Services

Autonomous Rendezvous and Docking Systems

Kurs Orbital's flagship offering is an integrated rendezvous, proximity operations, and docking solution. This system combines sensors, processing hardware, and advanced software algorithms to enable a servicing spacecraft to autonomously detect, track, approach, and connect with a target object. The system is designed to handle both cooperative targets (those equipped with docking aids or markers) and non-cooperative targets (such as debris or older satellites not designed to be serviced).

ARCADE Platform

The company has developed a solution referred to as ARCADE (Autonomous Rendezvous Control and Docking Experiment), which functions as an integrated hardware and software product for orbital proximity operations. ARCADE is intended to be offered as a modular payload or subsystem that can be integrated into a customer's spacecraft, giving that vehicle the capability to perform autonomous close-proximity maneuvers and docking. This "capability-as-a-product" model allows satellite operators and mission integrators to add advanced RPOD functionality without developing the underlying technology from scratch.

Sensor Fusion and Navigation Software

A key element of the company's offering is its navigation software, which integrates data from multiple sensor types—such as cameras, LiDAR, and other relative navigation sensors—to build an accurate, real-time understanding of the target's position, orientation, and motion. This sensor fusion approach improves reliability and robustness across varying lighting conditions and operational scenarios.

GNC Solutions and Engineering Services

Beyond delivering complete systems, Kurs Orbital provides guidance, navigation, and control engineering expertise. This includes the development of algorithms and flight software tailored to specific mission requirements, supporting customers who are building spacecraft that need to perform proximity operations, formation flying, or docking.

In-Orbit Servicing Enablement

The company's technology is aimed squarely at the in-orbit servicing and ISAM market. By providing the docking and capture capability that sits at the heart of any servicing mission, Kurs Orbital enables operators to extend satellite lifespans, reposition assets, deorbit debris, and conduct maintenance activities that were previously impossible once a satellite was launched.

Technology and Approach

Kurs Orbital emphasizes autonomy and reliability as central pillars of its technology. Autonomous operation is essential for missions where communication delays, orbital dynamics, or the need for rapid decision- making make real-time human control impractical. The company's systems are designed to make decisions onboard, executing the complex sequence of maneuvers required to safely close the distance between two spacecraft and complete a docking or capture.

The heritage of the Kurs docking concept provides a proven foundation, while the company modernizes this legacy with contemporary computing, machine vision, and software engineering. This blend of demonstrated reliability and innovation is intended to give customers confidence in the safety-critical nature of docking operations.

Market and Applications

The market for in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing is expanding as the value of orbital infrastructure grows and as concerns about space sustainability and debris increase. Kurs Orbital's technology serves several customer segments, including:

• Commercial satellite operators seeking to extend the operational lives of their fleets
• Companies and agencies focused on active debris removal
• Organizations pursuing in-orbit assembly of large structures
• Government and defense entities interested in space situational awareness and inspection capabilities

By providing the enabling technology for these missions, the company supports a broader ecosystem of space operators who require dependable proximity operations and docking capabilities.

Vision

Kurs Orbital's overarching vision is to make orbital operations as routine and accessible as possible, contributing to a future in which spacecraft can be serviced, refueled, repaired, upgraded, and safely disposed of in orbit. In doing so, the company aims to improve the sustainability of the space environment while unlocking new business models built on the ability to interact with satellites and other objects after they have been deployed.

Through its focus on autonomous rendezvous and docking, Kurs Orbital seeks to be a foundational technology provider in the emerging in-orbit economy, delivering the critical capabilities that make advanced space missions feasible.