D-Orbit

# D-Orbit: Europe's Space Logistics Infrastructure Provider

High-Level Overview

D-Orbit is a space logistics and transportation company that solves the critical "last-mile delivery" problem for satellites in orbit.[1] Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Milan, Italy, the company has evolved from a New Space startup into Europe's leading space logistics provider, delivering over 200 payloads to orbit through 21 commercial missions.[6] Rather than building satellites themselves, D-Orbit provides the infrastructure and services that enable other companies to deploy satellites efficiently—reducing deployment time by up to 85% and constellation launch costs by up to 40%.[2]

The company serves both traditional aerospace and emerging commercial space sectors, offering end-to-end solutions including orbital transportation, mission control software, hosted payload operations, in-orbit data processing, and space debris management.[4] With €150 million raised in its recently closed Series C funding round led by Marubeni Corporation of Japan, D-Orbit is positioned to expand into orbital servicing, refueling, and debris management—addressing the infrastructure needs of the trillion-dollar space economy.[6]

Origin Story

D-Orbit was founded in 2011 by Luca Rossettini (CEO) and Renato Panesi (CCO), with an initial focus on developing autonomous decommissioning technology for satellites at end-of-life.[5] The company's founding concept—a smart motor called the D3 (D-Orbit Decommissioning Device)—received partial funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 program in 2015.[5]

However, the company pivoted strategically from decommissioning toward space tugs, or orbital transfer vehicles (OTVs). This shift proved prescient: as the satellite industry exploded with mega-constellations and commercial space activity, the bottleneck wasn't getting satellites to space—it was efficiently positioning them in their operational orbits. D-Orbit recognized this gap and developed the ION Satellite Carrier, its proprietary OTV platform that became the foundation for all subsequent growth.[5] By demonstrating successful missions starting in 2021, the company proved the viability of in-orbit logistics at scale, establishing credibility in a market where many competitors remain in development phases.[6]

Core Differentiators

• Proven operational track record: 21 completed commercial missions with 137 satellites deployed and 77 hosted payloads—a distinction in a market where many OTV competitors are still in development.[1][6]

• Proprietary ION Satellite Carrier platform: A flexible, reusable orbital transfer vehicle that can transport multiple satellites and release them individually into distinct orbital slots, dramatically reducing time-to-revenue and constellation costs.[2][5]

• Integrated service ecosystem: Beyond transportation, D-Orbit offers mission control software, in-orbit cloud computing infrastructure (developed with Swedish AI company Unibap), subsystems manufacturing, and end-of-life management—creating stickiness with customers.[4][5]

• Plug-and-play hosted payload capability: The ION platform includes mechanical, electrical, and data interfaces that enable third-party technologies to operate in orbit, generating additional revenue streams and reducing customer integration complexity.[5]

• B Corporation certification: D-Orbit is certified as a B Corporation (since August 2014), embedding sustainability and environmental stewardship into its business model—relevant as space debris and orbital sustainability become regulatory and market imperatives.[2]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

D-Orbit is riding three converging mega-trends. First, the explosion of satellite mega-constellations—companies like SpaceX, Amazon, and others deploying thousands of satellites for global connectivity—created an urgent need for efficient orbital logistics. Second, the commercialization of space is shifting from government-dominated to private-sector-led, requiring new infrastructure layers. Third, space sustainability is becoming a regulatory requirement, making D-Orbit's decommissioning and debris management capabilities increasingly valuable.

The company's timing is critical: as launch capacity has become abundant (thanks to reusable rockets), the constraint has shifted to orbital infrastructure. D-Orbit essentially created a new market category—space logistics—by recognizing that the space economy needed the equivalent of terrestrial supply chain infrastructure. Their success validates the broader thesis that space will require specialized service providers, not just launch companies and satellite manufacturers.

D-Orbit's influence extends beyond its direct services: by proving that orbital transfer vehicles are operationally viable and economically attractive, the company has legitimized an entire category of space infrastructure companies and influenced how customers think about constellation deployment strategies.

Quick Take & Future Outlook

D-Orbit stands at an inflection point. The company has moved from proving concept to scaling operations, with a next launch scheduled for March 2026.[1] The €150 million Series C positions them to expand beyond last-mile delivery into higher-margin services like orbital refueling and active debris removal—services that require the operational expertise and customer relationships D-Orbit has already built.

The critical question ahead is whether D-Orbit can maintain its first-mover advantage as larger aerospace contractors (Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman) and well-funded competitors enter the space logistics market. Their edge lies in operational credibility, customer relationships, and an integrated service model rather than a single product. As the space economy matures, infrastructure providers like D-Orbit—analogous to logistics companies in terrestrial commerce—may prove more durable and valuable than point-solution providers.

The company's evolution from a decommissioning startup to Europe's space logistics backbone reflects a broader pattern: the most valuable space companies won't be those that build individual satellites, but those that build the systems enabling others to operate efficiently in orbit.