Bengaluru: South Korean space AI company Telepix has signed an MoU with Bengaluru-based space propulsion firm Bellatrix Aerospace to jointly develop a next-generation Earth Observation (EO) satellite designed to operate in very low Earth orbit (VLEO), with a technology demonstration mission targeted for launch in 2028.The partnership will combine Telepix’s high-resolution optical payload, Chouet, with Bellatrix’s VLEO satellite platform, powered by its proprietary air-breathing electric propulsion (ABEP) system. The companies said the collaboration aims to develop a satellite capable of continuous operation at altitudes between 150 km and 250 km, enabling continuous high-resolution EO and geospatial data collection.“The MOU was signed at Telepix’s SpaceLab facility in Daejeon, South Korea. Under the agreement, Bellatrix will provide the satellite bus, including propulsion, power, thermal control and attitude control systems, while Telepix Chouet will supply optical payload and support system integration,” it said in a statement issued on Monday.VLEO satellites operate much closer to Earth than traditional Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, providing significantly higher imaging resolution. This segment is expected to see increasing demand in defence, disaster response, environmental monitoring and precision observation applications.However, operating at such low altitudes presents a major technical challenge due to atmospheric drag, which can rapidly degrade satellite orbits. The companies said Bellatrix’s ABEP technology, which uses atmospheric particles as propellant, will help enable long-duration operations in VLEO environments.Telepix said its Chouette payload is designed specifically for VLEO missions and has a wide-swath imaging system capable of covering more than twice the observation width than comparable satellites currently on the market. The payload will also take advantage of the company’s artificial intelligence-based image processing capabilities.“Beyond the planned 2028 demonstration mission, the two companies will collaborate on launch operations, early-orbit activities and overall mission management. According to the statement, they will also explore future constellation deployment and commercial VLEO mission opportunities following in-orbit validation.Describing VLEO as a key pioneer in next-generation Earth observations, Telepix CEO Seongik Cho said the partnership will help Telepix extend its optical payload technology into new operational domains while expanding its global footprint. Bellatrix CEO Rohan M Ganapathy said that a commercially viable VLEO constellation could provide a “game-changing” improvement in imaging resolution compared to conventional EO observing systems operating in higher orbits.