Air-Breathing Propulsion Integration for Very Low Earth Orbit Satellites

Kreios Space is collaborating with Kongsberg NanoAvionics to deploy an air-breathing electric propulsion (ABEP) system into Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO). The project addresses atmospheric drag encountered by satellites operating at altitudes between 150 km and 300 km. Standard satellites in this regime experience rapid orbital decay due to gas resistance. Managing drag requires continuous thrust, which traditionally demands high onboard propellant mass. The joint project combines propulsion system design from Kreios Space with satellite platform engineering from Kongsberg NanoAvionics to test atmospheric gas harvesting in orbit.

Technical Solution and Engineering Responsibilities
The system relies on an intake mechanism that collects residual atmospheric molecules, primarily oxygen and nitrogen, present in VLEO. These gases are channeled into an electric thruster, ionized, and accelerated to produce continuous thrust. By utilizing atmospheric molecules as reaction mass, the system removes the requirement for stored chemical or noble gas propellants.

Kongsberg NanoAvionics supplies and adapts its MP42 microsatellite bus for this mission profile. The platform configuration has a total mass of approximately 200 kg. Kongsberg NanoAvionics manages system-level integration, including the mounting of the ABEP unit and an optical payload operating in the visible and near-infrared (VNIR) spectral range. The company conducts full system testing and initial orbital commissioning before transferring flight operations to Kreios Space.

Flight Demonstration and Operational Impact
The satellite bus will enter VLEO to evaluate the propulsion performance and collect orbital environmental data. Continuous thrust from the ABEP system maintains altitude stability against aerodynamic drag. Successful altitude maintenance allows the onboard VNIR optical payload to capture surface imagery at sub-meter spatial resolution. Operating at lower orbital altitudes reduces signal latency and improves link budgets for communication payloads, while increasing optical signal capture compared to standard low Earth orbits.

Edited by Evgeny Churilov, Induportals Media - Adapted by AI.

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