Droid Space Tug

Turion Space is developing a commercial space tug called Droid (Debris Removal, Orbital Insertion, and Delivery), targeting two markets: last-mile satellite delivery services (similar to Impulse Space Mira) and active debris removal in LEO. The vehicle uses a high-performance electric propulsion system for efficient in-space maneuvering.

For last-mile delivery missions, Droid takes satellites from rideshare deployment orbits to their operational orbits, supplementing the limited on-board propulsion of smallsats. For debris removal missions, Droid uses its rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) capabilities to approach non-cooperative objects (spent rocket stages, defunct satellites), capture them, and deorbit them.

Turion Space, founded in 2021 in Irvine, California, raised seed funding from Hemisphere Ventures and was selected for programs by DARPA and the US Air Force Research Laboratory. The company’s dual-use approach positions it at the intersection of commercial in-space services and growing government interest in space domain awareness and environmental responsibility.