Reusable rockets will efficiently deliver payloads to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), where specialized "space tugs" will then take over for the final, more efficient journey to higher orbits. This creates a new, more economical layer of in-space transportation infrastructure.

The next wave of space companies is moving away from the vertically integrated "SpaceX model" where everything is built in-house. Instead, a new ecosystem is emerging where companies specialize in specific parts of the stack, such as satellite buses or ground stations. This unbundling creates efficiency and lowers barriers to entry for new players.

Even with advanced simulations, Starfish Space needs real in-orbit photos to train its autonomous docking AI. Factors like harsh sunlight and thermal effects on camera lenses can't be perfectly modeled, proving the necessity of in-space demo missions to refine and validate software for critical operations.

The new wave of space startups is moving away from the SpaceX "build everything yourself" model. Instead, companies like Apex Space are unbundling the stack, specializing in one component like satellite buses. This allows for faster development cycles and creates a more robust, collaborative industry.

Skepticism around orbital data centers mirrors early doubts about Starlink, which was initially deemed economically unfeasible. However, SpaceX drastically reduced satellite launch costs by 20x, turning a "pipe dream" into a valuable business. This precedent suggests a similar path to viability exists for space-based AI compute.

A key trend, exemplified by Starfish Space, is the rise of businesses serving other space assets rather than just ground-based consumers. Starfish provides services *to* satellites, indicating the development of a self-sustaining, in-orbit economic ecosystem with its own B2B market.

Starfish's contract with the Space Development Agency is for disposal services, not a hardware grant or R&D project. This shift signifies that government bodies are now acting as commercial customers for in-orbit services, setting a crucial precedent that de-risks the business model for other space startups.

Starfish Space successfully performed an autonomous satellite rendezvous using just one lightweight camera. By shifting complexity from expensive, specialized hardware to sophisticated software, they are making complex in-orbit operations scalable and cost-effective, effectively industrializing a bespoke process.

Northwood Space offers an end-to-end ground station service, handling everything from hardware and land leases to software APIs and network backhaul. This "ground-as-a-service" model frees satellite operators from the complex, time-consuming, and non-core task of building and managing their own global communications infrastructure.