For decades, the commercial space industry has focused primarily on satellites operating hundreds of kilometres above Earth, creating a thriving ecosystem for communications, navigation, and Earth observation services. Yet a vast region of near Earth space has remained largely untouched by commercial operators due to its harsh operating conditions and technical complexity. Known as Very Low Earth Orbit, or VLEO, this orbital band sits much closer to the planet than traditional satellite constellations and offers unique advantages for imaging and connectivity. UK space technology company NewOrbit believes this underutilised region could become the next frontier of the space economy, and it has now secured significant new funding to accelerate that vision.
The Reading based satellite manufacturer has raised $18.5 million in an oversubscribed Series A funding round. The investment was led by Voyager Ventures and attracted participation from several prominent angel investors, including former NVIDIA Chief Scientist David Kirk, TIER Mobility co founder and former CEO Lawrence Leuschner, and family office Custos.
Existing investors Atlantic.vc, Lifeline Ventures, LGF, and Illusian also participated in the round.
The funding will support the commercialisation of NewOrbit’s satellite technology and help scale manufacturing capabilities ahead of future deployments.
Targeting a New Orbital Frontier
Founded in 2021, NewOrbit is focused on developing satellites specifically designed to operate within Very Low Earth Orbit, an area located approximately 200 to 300 kilometres above the Earth’s surface.
Historically, this orbital region has been used primarily for scientific and government missions, including the International Space Station and various intelligence gathering programmes.
Commercial operators have largely avoided the region because maintaining long term satellite operations at these altitudes has traditionally been extremely difficult.
NewOrbit believes advances in engineering and propulsion technology now make it possible to unlock the commercial potential of this space environment.
Why Flying Closer to Earth Matters
Operating closer to Earth provides several important advantages compared with traditional satellite orbits.
For Earth observation applications, satellites in VLEO can capture significantly higher resolution imagery because of their proximity to the surface.
The company believes this could eventually deliver image quality approaching that of drones while maintaining the broad coverage advantages of satellite systems.
For communications services, reduced distance between satellites and users translates into lower latency and potentially more efficient connectivity.
NewOrbit also sees opportunities to provide direct to device communication services at costs that could be substantially lower than those associated with existing satellite networks.
Solving the Challenges of VLEO
Despite these advantages, VLEO presents a demanding operating environment.
Satellites in this region experience intense atmospheric drag, exposure to atomic oxygen, and significant aerodynamic forces.
These conditions can rapidly degrade conventional spacecraft and shorten operational lifespans.
To overcome these obstacles, NewOrbit has developed purpose built satellite systems equipped with proprietary propulsion technology.
According to the company, its satellites are designed to operate for up to five years within these challenging conditions, creating a commercially viable platform for long term missions.
This capability forms the foundation of the company’s strategy to establish a sustainable presence within VLEO.
Building for Commercial Scale
The newly secured capital will be used to construct the company’s NEO Production Complex, a dedicated manufacturing facility scheduled for completion in 2027.
The facility will support production of NewOrbit’s first commercial satellite and significantly increase manufacturing capacity as demand grows.
The company expects its inaugural commercial satellite launch to take place in 2028.
By establishing in house production capabilities, NewOrbit aims to accelerate development timelines while supporting future constellation expansion.
Expanding Opportunities in Space
NewOrbit believes Very Low Earth Orbit could enable entirely new categories of satellite services that are difficult or impossible to achieve from higher orbital altitudes.
The company is initially targeting Earth observation and satellite connectivity markets, both of which continue to experience growing global demand.
As commercial space activity expands and satellite technologies become increasingly sophisticated, NewOrbit is positioning itself at the forefront of a new orbital economy. By opening access to one of the most challenging regions of near Earth space, the company hopes to create new opportunities for communication, imaging, and data services while redefining how satellites operate closer to our planet than ever before.