SPACE INDEX COMPANIES INSIGHTS SECTORS PRODUCTS NEWS BLOG ANSWERS RESEARCH ABOUT FOR COMPANIES BUILD / 2026.06.04
Busek logo Busek Designs and manufactures electric propulsion systems for spacecraft, including Hall effect, electrospray, RF ion, and green monopropellant thrusters vs Starfish Space Develops autonomous satellite servicing vehicles using electric propulsion for life extension, disposal, and on-orbit maneuvering Starfish Space logo
HEAD-TO-HEAD1 shared sector
Busek Starfish Space
Founded 1985 2019
Headquarters Massachusetts Tukwila, Washington
Type private private
Status operating operating
Employees 107 75
Total funding $200K $70M
Latest round Grant Series A
Sectors Space Propulsion, Satellite Components & Subsystems In-Orbit Servicing & Assembly, Space Propulsion, Space Sustainability & Debris Removal
Products listed 9 6
Federal contracts
Launches
Leaders listed Vlad Hruby, James Szabo, John Meikle Austin Link, Trevor Bennett, Ari Juster
News mentions 0 0
SHARED SECTORS
FREQUENTLY ASKED

How do Busek and Starfish Space compare?

Both companies work in Space Propulsion. Busek was founded in 1985 and Starfish Space in 2019.

Which is larger, Busek or Starfish Space?

Busek reports the larger workforce, with 107 employees versus 75.

Numbers refresh on every render against the live Space Index database. Federal contract data from USAspending.gov; launches from LaunchLibrary2.