Fraunhofer Institute for High-Speed Dynamics, Ernst-Mach-Institut, EMI
Fraunhofer Institute for High-Speed Dynamics, Ernst-Mach-Institut, EMI

High-resolution Earth observation from Low Earth Orbits

Four Fraunhofer institutes are pooling their expertise to develop robust, sustainable and economical solutions for Earth observation and communication. A new EMI branch office is being established in Würzburg for this purpose.

© ESA and Fraunhofer EMI
Small satellites in extremely low orbits: VLEO demonstrator opens the way to a new space era. Thanks to their proximity to the Earth, VLEO satellites provide high-precision Earth observations and powerful communication services – perfect for environmental monitoring, agriculture or future 6G networks. At the end of their service life, they burn up in the atmosphere in a controlled manner, thus promoting sustainable space travel.

Small satellites in extremely low orbits – known as Very Low Earth Orbits (VLEO) – open up completely new perspectives for high-resolution Earth observation and high-performance communication services. Due to their proximity to Earth, they provide high-resolution images and enable fast, direct connections to mobile devices – ideal for applications such as environmental monitoring, agriculture or future 6G communication networks. At the same time, they burn up naturally in the atmosphere at the end of their mission – a clear advantage in terms of sustainability.

However, VLEO is technically challenging: the residual atmosphere continuously slows down satellites, and aggressive components such as atomic oxygen attack materials. New solutions are needed to withstand these conditions – from flow-optimized designs and resistant coatings to miniaturized, robust electronics. Equally important is the cost-effective production of such satellites ready for series production so that larger constellations can be operated economically.

In the VLEO demonstrator project, funded by the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Energy and Regional Development, four Fraunhofer institutes are pooling their expertise: Fraunhofer EMI (small satellite technology), ISC (materials and coatings), IIS (communication systems) and IOF (Earth observation instruments). Together, they conduct research into key technologies in areas such as satellite design, attitude control systems, innovative materials and production aspects such as manufacturing processes and automated test procedures for industrial use. The focus is on production-ready, scalable solutions with short development cycles – tailored precisely to the requirements of the emerging NewSpace industry.

A central element is the establishment of the new EMI branch office in Würzburg – an up-and-coming NewSpace location in Bavaria. The aim is to strengthen the regional innovation ecosystem and facilitate access to space for small and medium-sized companies in particular. The project thus not only creates the technological basis for a new generation of satellites, but also promotes the economic use of space “made in Germany”.

© ESA and Fraunhofer EMI
Challenge: aerodynamic interaction effects in VLEO orbits. In close orbits, particles in the residual atmosphere – especially atomic oxygen and molecular nitrogen – cause significant material degradation and increase drag. Simulations show these effects and help to develop material- and design-optimized satellites.