NewOrbit Space
UK satellite startup targeting very low Earth orbit (150-250km) for high-resolution Earth observation and low-latency communications.
Last refreshed: 14 June 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Can NewOrbit sustain commercial satellites at 150km altitude where atmospheric drag beats most operators?
Timeline for NewOrbit Space
Closed oversubscribed $18.5m Series A
UK Startups and Innovation: NewOrbit raises $18.5m for very low orbit- What is very low Earth orbit and why is it useful for satellites?
- Very low Earth orbit (VLEO) refers to altitudes of roughly 150 to 250km, well below the 500 to 600km where most commercial satellites including Starlink operate. Satellites at VLEO deliver higher image resolution and lower communications latency because they are closer to Earth, though they face much greater atmospheric drag.Source: Lowdown
- How much has NewOrbit Space raised and who are its investors?
- NewOrbit Space has raised $27.8m in total funding, including an $18.5m Series A closed on 8 June 2026 led by Voyager Technologies.Source: Lowdown
- Why do most satellite companies avoid very low Earth orbit?
- At VLEO altitudes below 250km, atmospheric drag is significant enough to require frequent orbital reboosting or satellite replacement, making it engineering-intensive and costly. Most commercial operators consider this prohibitive at scale, making it an underserved niche.Source: Lowdown
Background
NewOrbit Space closed an $18.5m Series A on 8 June 2026, led by Voyager Technologies, bringing its total funding to $27.8m. The company develops satellites for very low Earth orbit (VLEO), typically 150 to 250km altitude, FAR below the 500 to 600km band where most commercial constellations including Starlink operate. At VLEO, satellites deliver higher image resolution and lower communications latency, but face significantly greater atmospheric drag and require more frequent reboosting or replacement.
NewOrbit Space targets Earth observation and low-latency communications markets where VLEO's resolution and latency advantages outweigh its engineering challenges. The UK Space Agency and the government's space sector growth agenda provide a supportive regulatory and funding environment for British satellite startups. VLEO remains an underserved niche; most established operators consider the altitude band's drag problem prohibitive at commercial scale.
The $18.5m Series A will fund satellite manufacturing and the first in-orbit demonstration. If NewOrbit can demonstrate sustained VLEO operation commercially, it could establish a UK capability in a segment currently served only by research missions and government programmes. Voyager Technologies' lead position adds aerospace credibility to the round.