South Korean optical payload developer TelePIX and Indian propulsion specialist Bellatrix Aerospace have joined forces for a demonstration geospace mission in very low Earth orbit (VLEO), scheduled for 2028 year.
The companies announced a partnership in the framework of optical sensor integration, which TelePIX is developing specifically for VLEO, with a satellite platform, which Bellatrix builds around an "air-jet" electric propulsion system. This system will use residual atmospheric particles at these altitudes as fuel. VLEO satellites operate at altitudes of about 150–250 kilometers. They promise a higher imaging resolution compared to conventional satellites at higher altitudes, more stable orbits, but face significant drag problems.
Indian company Bellatrix Aerospace, which, after successful domestic missions with its Hall engine, attracted the first foreign customer, still in 2024 started the development of propulsion systems for ultra-low Earth orbits (VLEO). Interest in this area is growing rapidly because of its critical importance for defense, high-precision surveillance and communication. Mission 2028 2018 will be the first technological demonstration of the satellite platform for Bellatrix, the mass of which is expected to be close to 200 kilograms, although the details have not yet been finalized.
The companies also agreed to cooperate on the launch, initial orbital operations and overall satellite mission management, considering the possibilities of supporting future constellations of satellites in VLEO. According to Bellatrix CEO Rohan Ganapathy, array operation at VLEO has the potential to provide revolutionary improvements in optical imaging resolution compared to current systems in conventional low-Earth orbit (LEO). For TelePIX, this agreement marks the scaling of optical payload technologies from the LEO range to the VLEO level. The indicated direction of modernization of Earth observation systems is a trend: the development of specialized low-orbit vehicles with an aerodynamic body is currently carried out by Redwire, Albedo and other market players.
Source: https://spacenews.com