Render of Orbes' Exo-ORB autonomous free-flyer in orbit alongside Symphony Space uncrewed station. Credit: Orbes
SAN FRANCISCO – Southern California startup Orbes announced an agreement July 27 to send Exo-ORB, a free-flying satellite, to gather imagery of an uncrewed Symphony Space station.
Exo-ORB, which is roughly the size of a 12-unit cubesat, will launch alongside Prelude, Symphony Space’s demonstration mission, in late 2027 or early 2028. Once in orbit, Exo-ORB will move 10 to 20 meters from Symphony Space’s station to capture and downlink imagery, Orbes CEO Anna Shaposhnik told SpaceNews.
To prevent collisions, Exo-ORB will be equipped with cold gas thrusters, iodine thrusters and reaction wheels. “We have the [guidance, navigation and control] GNC in place to keep it safe,” Shaposhnik said.
Orbes also is preparing to send ORB, a free-flying robot, to the International Space Station in early 2027.
