Advantages of Very Low Earth Orbit
Spacecraft operating between 100 and 450 kilometers above Earth benefit from sharper imaging, lower power needs for communications and radar, and a natural cleanup effect as atmospheric drag removes defunct objects from orbit.
How the Plasma Thruster Works
The proposed device ionizes the scarce molecules of the residual atmosphere and accelerates the resulting plasma with electric fields, producing thrust without carrying any propellant. In effect, the system uses the ambient air itself as reaction mass.
Testing and Outlook
Initial ground tests indicate that the thruster can generate sufficient thrust at densities around 10⁻⁹ kg/m³ to maintain altitude. Researchers aim to launch a demonstrator satellite into a 250 km orbit by 2027 to evaluate long‑term performance under varying solar activity. If successful, the technology could make future Earth‑observation and communications constellations considerably lighter and cheaper.