The OTTER (Optical Traffic Tracking Experiment for Responsive Space) satellite has successfully begun its mission in orbit, launched on November 28, 2025. Positioned at approximately 500 kilometers above Earth, this six-kilogram nanosatellite, comparable in size to a shoebox, is designed to enhance maritime monitoring. Led by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in collaboration with industry partners, the mission aims to explore the potential of small satellites in providing rapid space-based capabilities and augmenting existing maritime reconnaissance systems.
Equipped with a single antenna for receiving ship position signals and an onboard camera for image verification, OTTER can detect illegal fishing, ships in distress, oil spills, and signal manipulations in open waters. The satellite is expected to operate for two years in low Earth orbit before re-entering the atmosphere, utilizing an electric propulsion system for a controlled descent.
DLR’s Responsive Space Cluster Competence Center in Trauen, Lower Saxony, oversees the OTTER mission, focusing on responsive space concepts for maritime applications. This approach allows for the quick provision of satellite services, including infrastructure expansion and satellite replacement. OTTER, classified as a nanosatellite, serves as a testbed for innovative designs and operational methods for monitoring marine activities from space.
