Kreios Space

Kreios Space is a Spanish deep-tech company founded in 2021 in Nigrán, Spain, that develops satellites for Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) and what it describes as the world's first Air-Breathing Electric Propulsion (ABEP) system. The propulsion system runs on atmospheric air and solar power, removing the need for onboard fuel tanks and allowing satellites to operate at altitudes as low as 200 km and to stay in orbit for years rather than days. The company's VLEO satellites are designed to deliver sub-10 cm optical resolution, three times sharper imagery, seven times higher data rates and more than 50% cost reduction compared with conventional satellites; at the end of their life they deorbit naturally, addressing the problem of space debris.

The company grew out of a university research project and was founded by six aerospace engineers who met at university. It now employs a team of 17. Its work spans satellite technology, electric and atmospheric air-breathing propulsion, Earth observation optics and space sustainability. Applications cited for the technology include Earth observation, disaster response, precision agriculture, telecommunications and defense.

Kreios Space is backed by European investors including the NATO Innovation Fund and JOIN Capital. The company is based in Nigrán, Spain, and operates within the Spanish and European space sector.