# Kurs Orbital is an Italian startup developing technology for in-space satellite servicing.

*aerospace · news · 2024-03-07 · SpaceNews*

## Key points

- Kurs Orbital secured $4 million in seed funding led by OTB Ventures and other investors.
- Kurs is developing the ARCap interface module for in-orbit docking and satellite servicing.
- Kurs plans to deliver a flight-ready ARCap module by late 2025 for low Earth orbit missions.
- ARCap is offered as a stand-alone product and not as part of a servicing vehicle.
- Kurs already has agreements with Clearspace, Thales Alenia, and D-Orbit for ARCap adoption.

WASHINGTON — Kurs Orbital, an Italian startup developing technology for in-space satellite servicing, announced March 7 it has secured $4 million in seed funding. Based in Turin, Italy, Kurs was co-founded in 2021 by former director of Ukraine’s space agency Volodymyr Usov. The company relocated to Italy in 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine and set up operations at the European Space Agency’s Business Incubation Center. The funding round was led by the European firm OTB Ventures. Other participants include Credo Ventures, Galaxia, In-Q-Tel and Inovo. Usov, who is Kurs’ chief executive, said the seed funds will help to accelerate the development and commercialization of an interface module, called ARCap, that Kurs designed to facilitate in-orbit docking and maneuvers known as rendezvous and proximity operations. Module offered to satellite manufacturers The company does not intend to build servicing vehicles and plans to offer the ARCap as a stand-alone product. “With the help of our investors, we will be able to reach the market sooner, enabling many other startups and companies to start debris removal and satellite servicing operations,” said Usov. He said Kurs aims to deliver a “flight ready” ARCap module by late 2025. “The interface is designed with a modular architecture in mind to be scaled up and down based on application and orbit to be utilized at,” said Usov. The first flight ready system will be developed for missions in low Earth orbit. Usov said Kurs has several agreements with satellite manufacturers and space logistics companies, including Clearspace, Thales Alenia and D-Orbit.

**Companies:** Kurs Orbital, Clearspace, Thales Alenia, D-Orbit
**Countries:** Italy, Ukraine

[Read the full story on SpaceNews](https://spacenews.com/italian-space-startup-kurs-orbital-raises-4-million-in-seed-funding/)

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