Starlink Dodger Dog 1, 2

Starlink Dodger Dogs are two modified Starlink V3 prototype satellites developed by SpaceX as technology demonstrators and free-flying inspection platforms. They were launched aboard Starship v3 Flight 12, where they were deployed together with 20 Starlink mass simulators on a suborbital trajectory. Besides evaluating hardware for future Starlink V3 satellites, the spacecraft were designed to image Starship's thermal protection system during flight.

After separation from Starship, the satellites operated independently, using onboard cameras and integrated flashlights to observe the vehicle from a distance. Their primary mission was to obtain high-resolution images and video of Starship's stainless-steel structure and heat shield tiles while the spacecraft coasted through space before atmospheric reentry. The imagery provided engineers with valuable data on the condition and performance of the thermal protection system prior to reentry.

The Dodger Dogs satellites also served as early flight tests for components planned for operational Starlink V3 satellites, allowing SpaceX to validate hardware in the space environment while simultaneously demonstrating autonomous spacecraft inspection techniques. The mission illustrated how small free-flying satellites can support in-orbit vehicle inspection and engineering analysis during future Starship test flights.