AirSAT
Stars Edge
AirSAT is a payload-agnostic satellite platform designed for Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) at 100-150 km, utilizing an air-breathing plasma ramjet engine (AERIS) for propulsion.
Technical specifications
- Operating altitude
- 100–150 km (VLEO)
- Propulsion system
- AERIS engine (air-breathing plasma ramjet)
- Propellant
- Atmospheric particles (no conventional propellant)
- Electronics
- Commercial, off-the-shelf (COTS)
- Image resolution
- Sub-metre
- Revisit frequency
- Up to 17 passes a day
- Connectivity
- Direct-to-device (D2D)
- On-board processing
- Edge computing
- Typical lifetimes
- 2-5 years (mission dependent)
- First launch and in-orbit demonstration (AERIS and AirSAT)
- Q4 2027 (planned)
- First proprietary constellation
- 2028 (planned)
About
AirSAT is a next-generation satellite platform developed by Stars Edge, specifically engineered for sustained operation in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) at altitudes of 100-150 km. This platform is designed to be payload-agnostic and mass-manufacturable, offering an affordable and sovereign solution for Earth observation. Its key innovation is the proprietary AERIS engine, an air-breathing plasma ramjet that ionizes thin atmospheric particles and expels them for thrust, effectively counteracting atmospheric drag without the need for conventional propellant. This unique propulsion system allows AirSAT to maintain a stable orbit at extremely low altitudes. Flying at such low altitudes enables several advantages: significantly reduced radiation exposure, allowing the use of commercial, off-the-shelf electronics and lighter, more sustainable materials; a shorter link to the ground for increased data downlink, lower latency, and direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity; and the ability to achieve sub-meter image resolution with smaller optics. AirSAT is built for genuine self-operation, featuring proprietary D2D communications and on-board edge computing, which eliminates the need for a dedicated ground segment. Users can task the satellite from their own devices, process raw data in orbit, and receive finished answers directly. This results in near-zero operating effort, full sovereign control, extended VLEO time, high-speed downlink, and low latency. AirSAT is ideal for applications such as tracking wildfires, mapping urban heat, monitoring crops, and coastal surveillance, providing precision data with frequent revisits (up to 17 passes a day).
Documentation
No public datasheet yet — request the datasheet / ICD from the supplier.