TAMPA, Fla. — South Korean optical payload developer TelePIX and Indian propulsion specialist Bellatrix Aerospace have teamed up on a very low Earth orbit (VLEO) geospatial demonstration mission slated for 2028.
The companies announced a partnership May 28 to integrate an optical sensor TelePIX is designing specifically for VLEO with a spacecraft bus Bellatrix is building around an “air-breathing” electric propulsion system, which would use residual atmospheric particles at those altitudes as propellant.
VLEO satellites operate at altitudes around 150-250 kilometers, promising higher-resolution imaging capabilities than conventional satellites in higher, more stable orbits but with significant atmospheric drag challenges.
Bellatrix, which recently secured its first customer outside India after supporting several domestic missions with its electric Hall-effect thruster, started researching VLEO-tailored propulsion in 2024 amid growing interest in the orbit for defense, precision observation and communications.
The 2028 mission would be Bellatrix’s first technology demonstration of a satellite bus it expects to be around 200 kilograms, although details are still being finalized.
The companies also agreed to cooperate on launch and early orbit operations, along with overall satellite mission management as they consider opportunities to support future VLEO constellations.
“While a small, low-drag satellite may be sufficient for an initial technology demonstration mission, deploying meaningful payloads and building commercially viable constellations in VLEO will require larger satellite platforms supported by significant advancements in propulsion technology,” Bellatrix CEO Rohan Ganapathy said.
“Operating constellations in VLEO has the potential to deliver game-changing improvements in optical imaging resolution compared to conventional [low Earth orbit (LEO)] systems today.”
For TelePIX, the partnership marks the expansion of its optical payload capabilities from LEO applications into VLEO, where Redwire, Albedo and others are also pursuing aerodynamic spacecraft to improve Earth observation.
