<div class="grid grid-cols-article-mobile md:max-w-[750px] md:grid-cols-article" data-article-body="true"><p class="col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color">There are about 15,000 satellites <a href="https://orbit.ing-now.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:orbiting the Earth;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">orbiting the Earth</a>. Most of them, like the <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/international-space-station/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:International Space Station;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">International Space Station</a> and the <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Hubble Telescope;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Hubble Telescope</a>, reside in low Earth orbit, or LEO, which tops out at about 1,200 miles (2,000 kilometers) above the Earth’s surface.</p><p class="col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color">But as more and more satellites are launched into LEO – SpaceX’s <a href="https://www.starlink.com/us/technology?srsltid=AfmBOopP2hblyCkWtysw_pLf8vJRubmFxkCnRiGSF-rLGgWBKGCzCdlr" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Starlink internet constellation;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Starlink internet constellation</a> alone will eventually <a href="https://keeptrack.space/deep-dive/starlink-vs-the-world/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:send many thousands more there;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">send many thousands more there</a> – the region’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiMbm9XBCK4" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:getting a bit crowded;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">getting a bit crowded</a>.</p><p class="col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color">Which is why it’s fortunate there’s another orbit, even closer to Earth, that promises to help alleviate the crowding. It’s called <a href="https://redwirespace.com/capabilities/vleo/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:VLEO, or very low Earth orbit;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">VLEO, or very low Earth orbit</a>, and is only 60 to 250 miles (100 to 400 kilometers) above the Earth’s surface.</p><p class="col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color">As an <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=ckQTyHoAAAAJ&amp;hl=en" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:engineer and professor;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">engineer and professor</a> who is developing technologies to extend the human presence beyond Earth, I can tell you that satellites in very low Earth orbit, or VLEO, offer advantages over higher altitude satellites. Among other benefits, VLEO satellites can provide <a href="https://interactive.satellitetoday.com/via/december-2025/a-closer-look-at-vleo-the-new-frontier-in-orbit" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:higher-resolution images, faster communications and better atmospheric science;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">higher-resolution images, faster communications and better atmospheric science</a>. Full disclosure: I’m also a co-founder and co-owner of Victoria Defense, which seeks to commercialize VLEO and other space directed-energy technologies.</p><h2 class="heading-mb col-body heading-text-style font-bold charcoal-color">Advantages of VLEO</h2><p class="col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color">The images from very low Earth orbit satellites are sharper because they simply <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paerosci.2020.100619" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:see Earth more clearly;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">see Earth more clearly</a> than satellites that are higher up, sort of like how getting closer to a painting helps you see it better. This translates to higher resolution pictures for agriculture, climate science, disaster response and military surveillance purposes.</p><p class="col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color">End-to-end communication is faster, which is ideal for real-time communications, like phone and internet service. Although the signals still travel the same speed, they don’t have as far to go, so latency decreases and conversations happen more smoothly.</p><p class="col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color">Much weather forecasting relies on images of clouds above the Earth, so taking those pictures closer means higher resolution and more data to forecast with.</p><p class="col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color">Because of these benefits, <a href="https://www.nationalacademies.org/event/45500_08-2025_workshop-session-on-transformative-science-technology-for-the-department-of-defense-operationalizing-very-low-earth-orbit#sectionEventMaterials" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:government agencies;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">government agencies</a> and <a href="https://spacenews.com/viridian-wins-1-25-million-afwerx-award-for-vleo-propulsion-technology/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:industry;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">industry</a> are working to develop very low Earth orbit satellites.</p><h2 class="heading-mb col-body heading-text-style font-bold charcoal-color">The holdup: Atmospheric drag</h2><p class="col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color">You may be wondering why this region of space, so far, has been avoided for sustained satellite operations. It’s for one major reason: <a href="https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/impacts/satellite-drag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:atmospheric drag;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">atmospheric drag</a>.</p><p class="col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color">Space is often thought of as a vacuum. So where exactly does space actually start? Although about 62 miles up (100 kilometers) – known as the <a href="https://youtu.be/BBVCVHuKxhw?si=aw2OLolNMzpgyKG_" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:the von Kármán line;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">the von Kármán line</a> – is widely considered the starting point, there’s no hard transition where space suddenly begins. Instead, as you move away from Earth, the <a href="https://eaglepubs.erau.edu/introductiontoaerospaceflightvehicles/chapter/international-standard-atmosphere-isa/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:atmosphere thins out;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">atmosphere thins out</a>.</p><p class="col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color">In and below very low Earth orbit, the Earth’s atmosphere is still thick enough to slow down satellites, causing those at the lowest altitudes to <a href="https://alicja.space/blog/how-satellites-deorbit-kraksat-study" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:deorbit in weeks or even days;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">deorbit in weeks or even days</a>, essentially burning up as they fall back to Earth. To counteract this atmospheric drag and to stay in orbit, the satellite must constantly propel itself forward – like how riding a bike into the wind requires continuous pedaling.</p><p class="col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color">For in-space propulsion, satellites use <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/thruster" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:various types of thrusters;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">various types of thrusters</a>, which provide the push needed to keep from slowing down. But in VLEO, thrusters need to be on all, or nearly all, of the time. As such, conventional thrusters would quickly run out of fuel.</p><p class="col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color">Fortunately, the Earth’s atmosphere in VLEO is still thick enough that atmosphere itself can be used as a fuel.</p><h2 class="heading-mb col-body heading-text-style font-bold charcoal-color">Innovative thruster technologies</h2><p class="col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color">That’s where my research comes in. At Penn State, in collaboration with Georgia Tech and funded by the <a href="https://www.darpa.mil/about" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:U.S. Department of Defense;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">U.S. Department of Defense</a>, our team is developing a new propulsion system <a href="https://www.darpa.mil/research/programs/charge-harmony" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:designed to work at 43 to 55 miles up;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">designed to work at 43 to 55 miles up</a> (70 to 90 kilometers). Technically, these altitudes are even below very low Earth orbit – making the challenge to overcome drag even more difficult.</p><p class="col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color">Our approach collects the atmosphere using a scoop, like opening your mouth wide as you pedal a bike, then uses high-power microwaves to heat the collected atmosphere. The heated gas is then expelled through a nozzle, which pushes the satellite forward. Our team calls this concept the <a href="https://news.engr.psu.edu/2025/bilen-sven-darpa-vleo-grant.aspx" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:air-breathing microwave plasma thruster;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">air-breathing microwave plasma thruster</a>. We’ve been able to demonstrate a prototype thruster in the lab inside a vacuum chamber that simulates the atmospheric pressure found at 50 miles (80 km) high.</p><p class="col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color">This approach is relatively simple, but it holds potential, especially at lower altitudes where the atmosphere is thicker. Higher up, where the atmosphere is thinner, spacecraft could use different types of VLEO thrusters that others are developing to cover large altitude ranges.</p><p class="col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color">Our team isn’t the only one working on thruster technology. Just one example: The U.S. Department of Defense has partnered with defense contractor <a href="https://idstch.com/space/darpa-otter-program-unlocking-the-future-of-space-operations-with-air-breathing-electric-propulsion-technologies/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Red Wire;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Red Wire</a> to develop <a href="https://www.darpa.mil/research/programs/otter" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Otter;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Otter</a>, a VLEO satellite with its version of atmosphere-breathing thruster technology.</p><p class="col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color">Another option to keep a satellite in VLEO, which leverages a technology I’ve worked on throughout my career, is to tie a lower-orbiting satellite to a higher-orbiting satellite with a long tether. Although NASA has never flown such a system, the proposed follow-on mission to the <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/tss/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:tether satellite system;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">tether satellite system</a> missions flown in the 1990s was to drop a satellite into much lower orbit from the space shuttle, connected with a very long tether. We are currently revisiting that system to see whether it could work for VLEO in a modified form.</p><h2 class="heading-mb col-body heading-text-style font-bold charcoal-color">Other complications</h2><p class="col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color">Overcoming drag, though the most difficult, is not the only challenge. Very low Earth orbit satellites are exposed to very high levels of <a href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20190027587" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:atomic oxygen;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">atomic oxygen</a>, which is a highly reactive form of oxygen that quickly corrodes most substances, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjyv7bK9X74" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:even plastics;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">even plastics</a>.</p><p class="col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color">The satellite’s materials also must withstand extremely high temperatures, above 2,732 degrees Fahrenheit (1,500 degrees Celsius), because friction heats it up as it moves through the atmosphere, a phenomenon that occurs when all spacecraft <a href="https://youtu.be/jfhIKkRNKIY" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:reenter the atmosphere from orbit;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">reenter the atmosphere from orbit</a>.</p><p class="col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color">The potential of these satellites is driving research and investment, and proposed missions have become reality. <a href="https://www.juniperresearch.com/press/juniper-research-s-new-future-leaders-index-reveals-vleo-satellite-vendors-to-watch-as-market-develops/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Juniper research;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Juniper research</a> estimates that $220 billion will be invested in just the next three years. Soon, your internet, weather forecasts and security could be even better, fed by VLEO satellites.</p><p class="col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color"><em>This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com/us?utm_source=Yahoo&amp;utm_medium=related-link&amp;utm_campaign=related-link-0&amp;utm_content=article-258252" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:The Conversation;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">The Conversation</a>, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sven-bilen-496973?utm_source=Yahoo&amp;utm_medium=related-link&amp;utm_campaign=byline-link&amp;utm_content=article-258252" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Sven Bilén;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Sven Bilén</a>, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/penn-state-1258?utm_source=Yahoo&amp;utm_medium=related-link&amp;utm_campaign=byline-link&amp;utm_content=article-258252" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Penn State;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Penn State</a></em> </em></p><p class="col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color"><strong>Read more:</strong><br></p><ul class="col-body mb-4"><li class="list-mb ml-4 list-disc"><div class="grid grid-cols-[[fullbleed-start_body-start]_auto_[body-end_fullbleed-end]]"><p class="col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color"><a href="http://theconversation.com/nasa-will-say-goodbye-to-the-international-space-station-in-2030-and-welcome-in-the-age-of-commercial-space-stations-264936?utm_source=Yahoo&amp;utm_medium=related-link&amp;utm_campaign=related-link0&amp;utm_content=article-258252" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:NASA will say goodbye to the International Space Station in 2030 − and welcome in the age of commercial space stations;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">NASA will say goodbye to the International Space Station in 2030 − and welcome in the age of commercial space stations</a></p></div></li><li class="list-mb ml-4 list-disc"><div class="grid grid-cols-[[fullbleed-start_body-start]_auto_[body-end_fullbleed-end]]"><p class="col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color"><a href="http://theconversation.com/spacecraft-equipped-with-a-solar-sail-could-deliver-earlier-warnings-of-space-weather-threats-to-earths-technologies-259877?utm_source=Yahoo&amp;utm_medium=related-link&amp;utm_campaign=related-link1&amp;utm_content=article-258252" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Spacecraft equipped with a solar sail could deliver earlier warnings of space weather threats to Earth’s technologies;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Spacecraft equipped with a solar sail could deliver earlier warnings of space weather threats to Earth’s technologies</a></p></div></li><li class="list-mb ml-4 list-disc"><div class="grid grid-cols-[[fullbleed-start_body-start]_auto_[body-end_fullbleed-end]]"><p class="col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color"><a href="http://theconversation.com/space-junk-in-earth-orbit-and-on-the-moon-will-increase-with-future-missions-but-nobodys-in-charge-of-cleaning-it-up-212421?utm_source=Yahoo&amp;utm_medium=related-link&amp;utm_campaign=related-link2&amp;utm_content=article-258252" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Space junk in Earth orbit and on the Moon will increase with future missions − but nobody’s in charge of cleaning it up;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Space junk in Earth orbit and on the Moon will increase with future missions − but nobody’s in charge of cleaning it up</a></p></div></li></ul><p class="col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color"><em><span>Sven Bilén founder and co-owner of Victoria Defense, which seeks to commercialize VLEO and other space technologies. He receives funding from DARPA and NASA related to VLEO technologies. </span></em></p></div>

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