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Hub AI
Very low Earth orbit AI simulator
(@Very low Earth orbit_simulator)
Hub AI
Very low Earth orbit AI simulator
(@Very low Earth orbit_simulator)
Very low Earth orbit
Very low Earth orbit (VLEO) is a range of geocentric orbits with lowest altitudes (at perigee) below 400 km (250 mi). It is of increasing commercial importance in a variety of scenarios and for multiple applications, in both private and government satellite operations. Applications include Earth observation (radar, infrared, weather), telecommunications, and rural internet access among others.
Spacecraft may be put into a highly elliptical orbit around Earth with a perigee as low as 80 to 90 km (50 to 56 mi), surviving for multiple orbits. Sub-orbital flight and near space is sometimes considered to be the case up until 160 km of altitude above Earth.
In 2009 governments started showing interest in VLEO satellites, such as the European Space Agency's scientific satellite "Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explore" (GOCE), designed to take accurate measurements of Earth's gravitational field. It demonstrated a sustained orbit of between 250 and 300 km (160 and 190 mi) for three years from 2009 to 2013.
The Chinese Space Agency launched the Tiangong-1 prototype space station into VLEO in 2011, orbiting at an average of 355 km (221 mi), and the Tiangong-2 prototype in 2016, both of which have since deorbited. The Tiangong space station, launched in 2021 (permanently crewed since 2022), operates at a distance of roughly 350–450 km (220–280 mi).
The Japanese Space Agency, JAXA, launched its Super Low Altitude Test Satellite, or SLATS (“Tsubame”), in 2017, whose orbit slowly decreased from an initial altitude of 630 km (390 mi) to operate at seven different altitudes, from 271 km (168 mi) to a final altitude of 167.4 km (104.0 mi).
In 2016, Skeyeon filed a VLEO satellite patent describing commercial satellite operation in orbits from 100 to 350 km (62 to 217 mi). Companies such as Albedo, EOI Space, Thales Alenia Space and others have also announced plans.
In June 2021, the “1st International Symposium on VLEO Missions and Technologies”, registered almost 200 attendees from industry, academia, space agencies and government. In April 2022 DARPA issued a proposal to study VLEO for HF transmissions, and in December 2022 the benefits of VLEO are mentioned as a possibility for future 6G communication technology, using a constellation of small satellites in VLEO.
Project 200 by Bellatrix Aerospace aims to build an Ultra-Low Orbit satellite that will orbit at a height of less than 200 kilometers. By 2026, it hopes to launch its first satellite.
Very low Earth orbit
Very low Earth orbit (VLEO) is a range of geocentric orbits with lowest altitudes (at perigee) below 400 km (250 mi). It is of increasing commercial importance in a variety of scenarios and for multiple applications, in both private and government satellite operations. Applications include Earth observation (radar, infrared, weather), telecommunications, and rural internet access among others.
Spacecraft may be put into a highly elliptical orbit around Earth with a perigee as low as 80 to 90 km (50 to 56 mi), surviving for multiple orbits. Sub-orbital flight and near space is sometimes considered to be the case up until 160 km of altitude above Earth.
In 2009 governments started showing interest in VLEO satellites, such as the European Space Agency's scientific satellite "Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explore" (GOCE), designed to take accurate measurements of Earth's gravitational field. It demonstrated a sustained orbit of between 250 and 300 km (160 and 190 mi) for three years from 2009 to 2013.
The Chinese Space Agency launched the Tiangong-1 prototype space station into VLEO in 2011, orbiting at an average of 355 km (221 mi), and the Tiangong-2 prototype in 2016, both of which have since deorbited. The Tiangong space station, launched in 2021 (permanently crewed since 2022), operates at a distance of roughly 350–450 km (220–280 mi).
The Japanese Space Agency, JAXA, launched its Super Low Altitude Test Satellite, or SLATS (“Tsubame”), in 2017, whose orbit slowly decreased from an initial altitude of 630 km (390 mi) to operate at seven different altitudes, from 271 km (168 mi) to a final altitude of 167.4 km (104.0 mi).
In 2016, Skeyeon filed a VLEO satellite patent describing commercial satellite operation in orbits from 100 to 350 km (62 to 217 mi). Companies such as Albedo, EOI Space, Thales Alenia Space and others have also announced plans.
In June 2021, the “1st International Symposium on VLEO Missions and Technologies”, registered almost 200 attendees from industry, academia, space agencies and government. In April 2022 DARPA issued a proposal to study VLEO for HF transmissions, and in December 2022 the benefits of VLEO are mentioned as a possibility for future 6G communication technology, using a constellation of small satellites in VLEO.
Project 200 by Bellatrix Aerospace aims to build an Ultra-Low Orbit satellite that will orbit at a height of less than 200 kilometers. By 2026, it hopes to launch its first satellite.