Bellatrix Aerospace will help launch South Korea’s VLEO satellite mission
TelePIX and Bellatrix will develop a custom VLEO Earth observation satellite around the Choulette payload, focused on securing high-quality geospatial data.
Space startup Bellatrix Aerospace will assist South Korean space company TelePIX in its upcoming VLEO (Very Low Earth Orbit) satellite mission.
TelePIX and Bellatrix will develop a custom VLEO Earth observation satellite around the Choulette payload, focused on securing high-quality geospatial data.
As part of the partnership, the Chouette TelePIX high-resolution broadband optical payload will be integrated with Bellatrix Aerospace’s Air-Breathing Electric Propulsion (ABEP) VLEO satellite platform.
Bellatrix will provide the satellite bus, including drive, power, thermal management and position control systems, while TelePIX will supply the optical payload and support system integration.
VLEO satellites operate at altitudes of approximately 150 km to 250 km, lower than conventional low earth orbit (LEO) satellites.
Their closer proximity to Earth allows significantly higher resolution imaging capabilities. Experts expect the VLEO market to grow rapidly in the coming years, especially for defense, precision observation and disaster monitoring applications.
However, the VLEO environment presents significant atmospheric drag, making highly efficient propulsion technology essential for long-term operation.
TelePIX said the Chouette was designed with a form factor optimized specifically for the VLEO environment, unlike conventional optical payloads currently on the market. Through this cooperation, the companies are trying to implement a satellite system capable of stable operation even in VLEO conditions.
Chouette is equipped with a wide-angle optical imaging system with more than twice the viewing width of comparable satellites currently on the market. Combined with TelePIX’s proprietary AI-based image processing technology, the payload is designed for applications across the defense, disaster response and environmental monitoring sectors.
The companies are targeting launch and launch of the mission in 2028 and will also collaborate on launch operations, early orbit operations and overall mission management of the satellites.
“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 advances in propulsion technology. Operating constellations in VLEO has the potential to deliver breakthrough improvements in optical imaging resolution compared to conventional MEO systems,” Rorix Bell, CEO of Aerospace, Gapath, said today.
Published – 01 Jun 2026 19:19 IST