Skeyeon, Inc., today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent No. 12,559,451 B2, titled “System for Producing Remote Sensing Data from Near Earth Orbit.” The patent, issued February 24, 2026, describes a satellite system designed to operate in Very-Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) at altitudes between 180 km and 350 km, enabling high-resolution imaging with dramatically shorter revisit times than traditional Earth-observation satellites.
The patent names Ronald E. Reedy and Thomas E. Schwartzentruber as inventors and is assigned to Skeyeon.
The patented system describes satellites equipped with propulsion systems that counteract atmospheric drag, enabling stable operations at altitudes significantly lower than those of conventional satellites. The satellites also incorporate an onboard imaging system and a radio downlink for transmitting collected data directly to ground stations. Operating closer to Earth enables smaller, lighter spacecraft and reduces the size, weight, and cost of subsystems such as optical imagers, radar systems, and communications links.
By deploying large constellations of lower-cost satellites in this near-Earth orbital regime, the architecture enables frequent revisit rates and near-real-time remote sensing for applications including environmental monitoring, national security, disaster response, maritime tracking, and commercial data analytics.
“VLEO has long been recognized as a compelling orbit for Earth observation, but surviving and operating there has been the challenge,” said Rob Weitendorf, COO of Skeyeon. “Our patented approach — combining a purpose-designed aerodynamic structure with an atomic-oxygen-resistant coating, an onboard imaging system, and a direct-to-ground radio downlink — brings together everything needed to collect and deliver high-resolution data from this demanding environment.”
Key Advantages of the Patented System
- Very Low Earth Orbit (180–350 km): Closer proximity to Earth enables higher-resolution sensing.
- Propulsion-assisted drag compensation: Onboard engines counter atmospheric drag to maintain stable orbit dynamics.
- Atomic-oxygen-resistant coating: A specularly reflective coating on the satellite's aerodynamic frontal section reduces drag and protects against damage from atomic oxygen interactions in the VLEO environment.
- Integrated imaging system: Onboard imaging hardware collects high-resolution remote sensing data directly from VLEO altitudes.
- Direct-to-ground radio downlink: Captured data is transmitted directly to ground stations, enabling streamlined end-to-end data delivery.
- Lower satellite size and mass: Reduced payload and subsystem requirements, lower overall system costs.
- Large constellations of small satellites: Enable dramatically shorter revisit times for imaging and sensing missions.
- Near-real-time remote sensing: High-frequency observation supports applications in defense, climate monitoring, disaster response, and commercial analytics.
- Space sustainability benefits: Objects at these altitudes naturally de-orbit, reducing long-term orbital debris and creating a self-cleaning orbital regime.
Traditional satellites usually operate in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at altitudes between roughly 500 km and 1,200 km. In contrast, the newly patented Skeyeon system targets near-Earth orbits that were previously considered impractical for sustained missions due to atmospheric drag.
About Skeyeon
Skeyeon, Inc. is developing advanced satellite architectures designed to operate in Very-Low Earth Orbit, enabling high-resolution remote sensing, rapid revisit times, and cost-efficient constellation deployment. By combining propulsion-assisted orbital stability with smaller spacecraft designs, the company aims to open a new orbital regime for commercial and government Earth-observation missions.
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For additional information, contact:
Jacqueline Townsend Rosenthal
jackie@townsendteam.com
