All articles tagged with #vleo
The piece surveys very low Earth orbits (VLEO) as a self-cleaning approach to orbital congestion, citing ESA's GOCE and JAXA's SLATS as missions that operated at very low altitudes and required continuous propulsion, and discusses future ABEP concepts (e.g., Redwire’s SabreSat) that could allow 90 km–level operation indefinitely if power and propulsion hurdles are overcome.
Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) satellites, orbiting 60 to 250 miles above Earth, offer advantages like higher resolution images and faster communication, but face challenges from atmospheric drag and corrosion. Researchers are developing innovative propulsion systems, such as air-breathing microwave plasma thrusters, to maintain VLEO satellites, which could revolutionize Earth observation, weather forecasting, and communications. Significant investments are driving this emerging space frontier closer to reality.
Rocket Lab successfully launched four DiskSat small satellites for NASA and the U.S. Space Force to test new low Earth orbit operations, including high power generation and maneuverability in very low Earth orbit, aiming to expand satellite capabilities beyond traditional designs.
Researchers from the Department of Energy's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory and George Washington University are developing air-breathing electric propulsion (ABEP) systems for satellites in very low Earth orbit (VLEO) that can generate fuel from the atmosphere, potentially extending satellite lifetimes and reducing mass. This technology, funded by DARPA, aims to use air as propellant instead of conventional fuels, and while still in the experimental phase, it has garnered interest from space agencies like the European Space Agency.
The space industry is developing technologies to remove space debris caused by satellites from an over-crowded low Earth orbit (LEO), while also considering the untapped potential of very low Earth orbit (VLEO) for satellite operations. However, working at this altitude with air would require more force to propel the satellite and keep it from falling back down to Earth.