Innovative Low Orbit Technology and Locally-Designed Imaging System
Singapore is set to launch an advanced microsatellite into Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) by 2025, aiming to expand the nation’s capabilities in space technology. The satellite, weighing just 100kg, will orbit at an altitude of 250km for over a year, breaking ground with its compact design and fuel-efficient propulsion system.
Innovation in Low Orbit Technology
Unlike conventional satellites that operate at altitudes between 500 and 800km, this new satellite explores the benefits of lower orbits. VLEO offers improved performance, reduced costs, and enhanced imaging capabilities, according to Lim Wee Seng, Executive Director of NTU’s Satellite Research Centre (SaRC). To tackle the increased drag in such low altitudes, Aliena, a spin-off from NTU, developed an innovative engine that ensures the satellite’s stability and efficiency.
When its mission concludes, the satellite will burn up during atmospheric re-entry, aligning with global efforts to minimise space debris.
Locally-Designed Space Camera
Equipped with Singapore’s first homegrown space camera, developed by LightHaus Photonics, the satellite will provide high-resolution images with unprecedented detail. Capable of capturing objects as small as 0.5m, the imaging system marks a 20-fold improvement over the X-SAT, Singapore’s first locally-built satellite launched in 2011. Such advancements promise real-world applications in areas like disaster management and air traffic optimisation.
Driving Space Innovation in Singapore
The satellite is a flagship project of a newly-formed consortium led by NTU, including key players like Aliena, ST Engineering, and NUS Temasek Laboratories. Supported by the Office for Space Technology and Industry (OSTIn), the initiative underscores Singapore’s position as a hub for VLEO satellite technology.
With 13 satellites already in orbit, nine of which were designed and built by NTU’s SaRC, Singapore continues to strengthen its presence in the global space sector while driving innovation and sustainability in satellite technology.
