So, like, there’s this new thing called Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) satellites, which are basically orbiting WAY closer to Earth (like, 150 to 450 km up). And they are SO cool because they give super clear pics, have less lag, and are cheaper to launch! The first experimental VLEO satellites went up in 2023 and 2024, and NASA, ESA, and private companies are already working on more. Some even hope these satellites will replace traditional ones to cut down on space junk. Like, how cool is that?!
And the best part? Because they’re so close, VLEO satellites have way less signal delay, making them perf for real-time communication. They’re also amazing for super-detailed Earth observation, like tracking wildfires, monitoring pollution, and spying—uh, I mean, watching global events unfold in real-time. Companies like SpaceX and China’s GalaxySpace are already competing to launch more of these super low-orbit satellites, and researchers are working on making them last longer in orbit (since the atmosphere kinda drags them down). The European Space Agency is even testing new propulsion systems to keep VLEO satellites up longer without using tons of fuel. So, the new space race? It’s all about who controls these speedy little satellites first!
Okay, history time—Sputnik 1 launched on October 4, 1957, starting the whole satellite obsession. Since then, we’ve gone from beeping machines to super-advanced tech that runs, like, literally everything. The first GPS satellites went up in the 1970s, the Hubble Space Telescope launched in 1990, and now we have megaconstellations like Starlink filling the sky. As of 2024, there are 8,500 active satellites, plus 27,000+ pieces of space junk floating around. Thanks, Starlink!
So, who owns them all? The U.S. leads with over 5,000 satellites (thanks, SpaceX), followed by China (700+), Russia (200), and then the UK, India, Japan, and France. These satellites do everything—WiFi, GPS, spying, tracking climate change, and even science-y stuff like looking for aliens. And, like, even Amazon is getting in on the action with their Project Kuiper internet satellites. Because obviously, if Jeff Bezos can sell us everything on Earth, he’s gonna try to beam it down from space too!
But what happens to old satellites? Some burn up in the atmosphere (dramatic!), some get pushed into graveyard orbits, and others just float around as space junk (yikes!). And with thousands of new satellites going up every year, space junk is a major problem. Luckily, there are “space janitor” projects trying to clean up the mess, like satellites that grab trash or even refuel old ones to keep them working longer. The European Space Agency is even testing a satellite that can harpoon space junk and drag it down to burn up. Like, can we get that for cleaning up our closets too?!
With VLEO and AI-powered satellites on the rise, the future is, like, totally wild. The new space race isn’t just about going to Mars—it’s about controlling the most satellites. Countries and companies are racing to launch smarter, faster, and more efficient satellites, and it’s gonna change everything from global communication to national security. And with all this new tech zooming above our heads, space traffic is about to get real. Buckle up, besties, because the sky is literally just the beginning!
XOXO,
Valley Girl News
