Kreios Space Prepares a First Orbital Test of Abep
A mission aimed at very low Earth orbit is moving from concept to hardware, with Kreios Space set to fly an air-breathing electric propulsion system in orbit for the first time. The goal is straightforward - prove that a spacecraft can use the atmosphere of Earth as propellant and stay effective in VLEO for far longer than a conventional setup would allow.
Mission Focus in Very Low Earth Orbit
Kreios Space, known for work on VLEO satellite systems, is preparing what appears to be the first orbital launch of a satellite equipped with atmosphere-breathing electric propulsion. For the flight platform, the company is working with Kongsberg NanoAvionics, or NanoAvionics, which will supply a microsatellite bus for the demonstration mission.
The companyโs ABEP technology is meant to support long-duration operations in very low Earth orbit, where drag in physics terms quickly becomes the dominant challenge. At altitudes between 300 km and 150 km, a satellite can produce more detailed Earth observation data and support lower communication latency. From what Iโve seen in remote sensing work, even a modest shift in altitude can change data quality in ways that matter on the ground.
| Altitude Range km | Observation Data Quality | Communication Latency |
|---|---|---|
| 300 to 150 | Higher detail becomes possible | Lower latency is possible |
Why the MP42 Bus Was Chosen
For this first in-orbit test, Kreios Space selected the MP42 microsatellite bus from NanoAvionics. In its final form, the spacecraft is expected to weigh about 200 kg and will also carry an optical payload that has not yet been named.
Operating in low Earth orbit at the very low end of the range, the mission is expected to check how the ABEP thruster performs under real conditions. It will also gather environmental data and return visible plus near-infrared imagery with resolution below one meter. I read that setup a bit like a GPS calibration pass - you are measuring performance while also verifying the surrounding signal.
How the Propulsion System Works
ABEP is a form of spacecraft electric propulsion built specifically for VLEO. The concept uses an intake to collect gas from the upper atmosphere, with residual molecules such as oxygen feeding the propulsion chain. In practical terms, the flow has to be captured, then turned into charged particles before the thruster can accelerate it. Depending on the design, that ionization step can rely on electron bombardment or RF ionization, and the acceleration stage can use electrostatic grids or magnetic control inside a Hall-effect layout.
That also answers a broader question around ion and plasma propulsion. Ion propulsion is possible, electrostatic propulsion is real, and plasma propulsion has already been used in space. These systems are established electric propulsion technologies, although they usually produce gentle thrust and need sustained electrical power to keep working.
The practical benefit is easy to understand. A spacecraft does not need to carry the same mass of onboard propellant from launch, which removes one of the hardest limits on sustained operations this low in orbit. That can reduce launch mass pressure and leave more room for payload or mission life, especially if the surrounding atmosphere can support ongoing orbit maintenance. In propulsion terms, it shifts the problem away from a fixed tank of stored gas such as xenon and toward continuous use of the surrounding atmosphere.
There are tradeoffs. Ion thrusters are efficient, but their thrust is low, and power demand can be a serious constraint on a small platform. For ABEP, the challenge becomes even tighter because intake efficiency, ionization efficiency, and component wear all have to hold up while the spacecraft moves through a very thin flow of gas. Operation at low atmospheric density is the whole point of the concept, yet it is also one of the hardest engineering limits to solve cleanly.
That makes the idea relevant to broader research around electric propulsion. For ABEP work, the most likely thruster paths are ion thrusters and Hall-effect thrusters, with different teams also exploring RF-based concepts for the ionization stage.
NanoAvionics Role in the Flight Campaign
NanoAvionics will adapt its flight-proven microsatellite platform for the mission profile, then integrate the optical payload and complete full system testing before launch. After orbital insertion, the company will commission the spacecraft so Kreios Space can assume operational control.
That handoff matters more than it may seem at first glance. In missions like this, the bus and the electric power system have to line up cleanly, much like matching layers in GIS so the final map holds together. Even a short commissioning window, sometimes only a few days, can reveal whether the platform and the propulsion system are behaving as one spacecraft rather than two separate engineering efforts.
Growing Attention Around VLEO Technology
Kreios Space is moving ahead at a time when VLEO research is gaining momentum across the space sector. China has recently formed a national industry alliance around very low Earth orbit, and several other companies have announced missions or funding activity tied to the same domain.ABEP matters because it could let satellites stay where the data is best without burning through finite onboard propellant.
ABEP matters because it could let satellites stay where the data is best without burning through finite onboard propellant.
That wider interest makes sense.
- Imaging can improve because the spacecraft flies closer to Earth.
- Communication links can benefit from lower latency.
The hard part is keeping the system alive against drag and weak atmospheric intake while still producing enough sustained thrust. If Kreios Space can validate its ABEP system in orbit, it would mark an important step toward a new class of satellites designed to stay low and keep working. A successful test would also strengthen the case for future demonstration missions and more specialized VLEO platforms built around continuous orbit maintenance.
