Kreios Space, a company specializing in Very Low Earth Orbit (Very Low Earth Orbit) satellites, will use a satellite platform developed by Kongsberg NanoAvionics to test the ABEP technology that its future satellites will carry, enabling sustained operations in Very Low Earth Orbit.
Kreios Space has selected NanoAvionics’ MP42 microsatellite bus, weighing approximately 200 kg in its final configuration including the payload, for its first in-orbit demonstration. The mission will validate the performance of its ABEP propulsion at altitudes ranging from 150 to 300 km, conduct environmental measurements, and capture images in the VNIR spectral range.
Kreios Space is conducting this mission at a time when interest and development in VLEO technologies has accelerated globally, as demonstrated by China, which has recently formed a national industrial alliance focused on Very Low Earth Orbits, as well as several international space companies announcing new missions and investments in this area.
Adrián Senar, CEO of Kreios Space, states: “We are building satellites that will make sustained operation in Very Low Earth Orbit possible. By enabling satellites to fly lower, longer, and more efficiently, we enable higher-resolution Earth observation, better satellite communications, more agile and precise missions, and a more sustainable orbital infrastructure. Collaborating with NanoAvionics on our first orbital flight provides us with a satellite platform and market-leading know-how that will allow us to test our new technology with confidence. It will be a turning point in the role and value of VLEO.”
Por su parte, Atle Wøllo, CEO de Kongsberg NanoAvionics, señala: «Kreios está abordando uno de los entornos operativos más exigentes del sector espacial y esta misión se incorpora a un grupo muy reducido de iniciativas europeas centradas en Very Low Earth Orbit. Este contrato refleja la confianza continuada de nuestros clientes en la madurez de nuestras plataformas y en nuestra capacidad para adaptarlas a perfiles de misión altamente exigentes».
