Kreios Space selects Kongsberg NanoAvionics for first VLEO satellite with air‑breathing propulsion

Kreios Space, a Spanish satellite developer, will launch its first Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) demonstration satellite using the MP42 microsatellite bus supplied by Kongsberg NanoAvionics. The mission will test an air‑breathing electric propulsion (ABEP) system that ingests residual atmospheric gases to generate thrust, counteracting drag at altitudes of 150‑300 km.

The partnership, backed by a NATO innovation fund, aims to prove sustained operations in VLEO, which could enable higher‑resolution Earth observation, lower‑latency communications and a more sustainable orbital environment. CEO Adrián Senar said the technology will allow satellites to fly lower, longer and more efficiently.