CASA provides aerodynamic coating technology and design consultancy for satellites operating in very low Earth orbit (VLEO).
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Satellites operating below 450 km altitude (VLEO) experience severe atmospheric drag and atomic oxygen erosion, which drastically shorten mission lifetimes and increase propellant, power, and structural requirements, making VLEO missions costly and technically risky.
Solution
CASA offers a patented aerodynamic coating that can be applied to satellite surfaces to reduce aerodynamic drag by up to 30 % while providing resistance to atomic oxygen corrosion. The coating has been flight‑qualified on the SOAR experiment and the International Space Station, demonstrating real‑world performance. By lowering drag, the technology cuts propellant and power consumption, extending satellite operational life and reducing the need for large propulsion systems or oversized structures. CASA also provides design consultancy that integrates the coating into spacecraft architectures, enabling customers to exploit the higher resolution Earth‑observation, ultra‑low‑latency communications, and resilient defence capabilities that VLEO offers. The combined coating and consultancy solution turns VLEO from a niche concept into an economically viable orbit regime.
Target Audience
Primary customers are satellite manufacturers and operators developing constellations for Earth observation, communications, or defence missions that target very low Earth orbit.
Features
- Patent‑pending coating formulation delivering up to 30 % drag reduction in VLEO environments
- Proven atomic oxygen resistance validated on the SOAR mission and ISS materials facility
- Lightweight, conformal application compatible with existing satellite structures and materials
- Integrated design consultancy that embeds the coating into spacecraft architecture for optimal performance
- Quantifiable savings in propellant, power, and mass (SWaP‑C) leading to extended mission lifetimes