A new frontier is emerging in space exploration, but it’s not happening on the Moon or Mars—it’s taking place just above our planet. A race is underway to dominate Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO), an untapped region that sits between traditional low-Earth orbit and the upper reaches of Earth’s atmosphere.
The Perilous Balance of VLEO
Satellites in VLEO operate at extreme altitudes—between 60 miles (100 km) and 250 miles (400 km)—where atmospheric drag poses a major challenge. A satellite left in medium Earth orbit or above would carry on circling our planet for millennia. In VLEO, however, it would last barely months, weeks, or even days depending on its speed, shape and mass, dictating the amount of drag it produces and thus its lifetime. Once a satellite dips to an altitude of about 60 miles (100km), the end is imminent. The intense friction created by the thicker atmosphere subjects the satellite to temperatures of thousands of degrees, ultimately tearing it apart.
The Quest for Perpetual Motion in Space
One such spacecraft, however, was the European Space Agency’s Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) satellite. Launched in 2009, it orbited at an altitude of around 155 miles (250km), using an ion propulsion system to fire out charged particles behind the spacecraft. This gave it a constant level of thrust that could counteract the drag of the atmosphere.
Companies like Redwire, Stellar Advanced Concepts, and Kreios Space are leading the charge in developing air-breathing electric propulsion (ABEP) systems. These propulsion methods work by capturing atmospheric molecules, ionizing them, and using them to generate thrust. Theoretically, this would allow satellites to counteract atmospheric drag indefinitely, making VLEO satellites a game-changer for ultra-high-definition Earth observation, military surveillance, and real-time communications.
Advantages of VLEO Satellites
- Higher-Resolution Imaging – Operating closer to Earth means sharper images, beneficial for security, agriculture, and environmental monitoring.
- Faster Communications – VLEO satellites could revolutionize space-based internet, providing lower latency and enabling direct-to-phone connections.
- Self-Cleaning Orbits – Unlike higher-orbit satellites, those in VLEO naturally deorbit and burn up in the atmosphere, reducing space debris.
Challenges and Global Competition
While promising, VLEO satellites face obstacles. At such altitudes, satellites are particularly sensitive to the effects of the Sun, since heat can shrink or swell Earth’s atmosphere as solar activity waxes and wanes.This caused trouble for 38 newly launched SpaceX Starlink satellites in 2022 when a geomagnetic storm caused the amount of atmospheric drag to increase by up to 50%, causing them to be pulled back towards Earth and burn up. It is a risk that will need to be carefully monitored by keeping a close eye on space weather forecasts. Additionally, space debris from VLEO collisions could be flung into higher orbits, potentially endangering other satellites.
Despite these risks, the market for VLEO services is projected to reach $15 billion by 2032, with companies racing to perfect ABEP technology before their competitors. The space race has shifted from deep space to Earth’s very edge, and whoever masters VLEO first could shape the future of satellite technology. All satellites pass through VLEO on their way up or down, but not many have purposefully tried to stay there.
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