Analysis of The Current Status of Low-Orbit Satellites (LEO) Analysis of the current status of low-orbit satellites (LEO)

Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technology has become the core of the development of the global communications industry and space technology. Its characteristics of low latency and high coverage can not only make up for the shortcomings of ground communications, but the LEO industry is also facing explosive challenges behind its booming development. Let’s start with the current situation of various low-orbit satellite industry players and look at the application and future development of low-orbit satellites in various fields! We posted an article about classification of satellite orbit previously including LEO, MEO and GEO, please click for more details.

1. The latest status of Starlink and other satellites company

Starlink is a low-orbit satellite（LEO） program launched by SpaceX, the aerospace company founded by Elon Musk. Since SpaceX also produces rockets and other businesses, it has laid a very good foundation for Starlink. In the field of low-orbit satellites, it can be said to be the industry leader.

SpaceX has launched thousands of satellites and plans to deploy more than 40,000 satellites to achieve seamless global network coverage. Starlink has cooperated with the US telecommunications company T-Mobile to launch the “Mobile Direct Satellite” function, allowing users to connect directly to satellites through ordinary mobile phones. In the near future, it plans to realize two-way text message transmission to further eliminate ground communication blind spots.

In contrast, OneWeb, a global communications company headquartered in London, UK, aims to cooperate with governments and corporate markets. It has merged with French satellite operator Eutelsat to form a powerful consortium with the goal of deploying more than 7,000 satellites. OneWeb is actively expanding the European, Asian and Middle Eastern markets, and jointly developing efficient satellite technology with partners such as Airbus.

Amazon’s Amazon Kuiper has invested more than $10 billion and plans to complete the deployment of 3,236 satellites by 2029. Although it is still in its early stages, Kuiper has a strong financial and technical foundation and has begun testing satellite services. Amazon has also signed cooperation agreements with several rocket launch companies to accelerate its satellite deployment process. Analysts predict that Kuiper’s commercialization may bring initial results in 2025, but the huge initial investment also puts it under pressure to make losses.

2. Future applications of low-orbit satellites（LEO）

2.1 Wide coverage and precise application of IoT

Low-orbit satellites（LEO） bring global connectivity to IoT applications, especially in remote areas that are difficult to reach with terrestrial networks. For example, in agriculture, satellites can be used to transmit data to monitor soil moisture and crop health at any time; marine research relies on satellite data to track ocean currents and pollution.

Low-power wide area network (LPWAN) technology of low-orbit satellites is also suitable for long-distance data transmission, which is very suitable for applications such as forest fire monitoring and navigation management of ocean-going cargo ships. Australia’s Fleet Space Technologies is serving 1 million IoT devices worldwide through a constellation of nanosatellites, becoming one of the pioneers in this field.

2.2 Real-time management and disaster prevention applications in smart cities
Low-orbit satellites（LEO） can provide large-scale, real-time data support for smart cities, making infrastructure management more efficient. For example, satellite data can be used to regularly monitor the structural health of bridges and roads to reduce risks caused by aging.

In terms of traffic management, satellite data can help manage traffic flow and reduce congestion. In disaster prevention applications, low-orbit satellites can provide high-resolution images of disaster areas, helping disaster relief units quickly locate disaster-stricken areas and priority repair points, thereby improving the efficiency of post-disaster reconstruction.

2.3 Communications and safety upgrades in the aviation industry

Low-orbit satellites（LEO） have a particularly significant impact on the aviation industry, providing global network coverage for aircraft, not only allowing passengers to enjoy high-speed Internet during flight, but also taking flight tracking a step further. Real-time transmission of aircraft location and route information via satellite can improve flight safety, and the meteorological information provided by the satellite system can help aircraft avoid bad weather, enhance fuel use and management, and flight planning.

2.4 Global connectivity and security monitoring for the shipping industry

The application of low-orbit satellites（LEO） in the shipping industry is also gradually becoming popular, especially in maritime communications and ship tracking. Due to the lack of stable terrestrial networks in most areas at sea, satellite connections have become the preferred solution for ship communication and navigation. Satellite data can help monitor marine pollution, illegal fishing and smuggling activities, while simultaneously tracking ship locations and navigation routes in real time. To reduce the risk of maritime disaster.

3. Challenges of the low-orbit（LEO）satellite industry

3.1 Technical challenges and capital thresholds
The manufacturing and launch of low-orbit satellites must meet the dual requirements of high reliability and low cost. The integration of various subsystems within the satellite (such as communications, propulsion, power, etc.) is also extremely challenging, especially for small satellites, whose technical complexity is no less than that of large satellites. The high R&D costs of ground-based equipment, such as high-gain antennas and frequency chips, have become a bottleneck restricting the scale of the industry.

3.2 Space debris and regulatory issues
With the deployment of a large number of low-orbit （LEO）satellites, the problem of space debris has gradually come to the fore. According to estimates by the International Space Regulatory Organization, there are currently hundreds of thousands of pieces of debris in Earth’s orbit that threaten satellites in orbit and future missions. In addition, the allocation of spectrum resources and international coordination also face challenges, and countries need to unify standards to avoid frequency interference.

It is worth mentioning that Starlink claims that they use an environmentally friendly design to ensure that retired satellites burn out when they return to Earth to reduce the generation of space debris.

3.3 Market competition and investment return pressure
Although the low-orbit satellite industry is growing rapidly, the market competition is fierce. The competition between Starlink, OneWeb and Kuiper has increased the pressure of capital investment. For example, Amazon Kuiper plans to invest more than 10 billion US dollars in a few years, but its commercial payback period may take longer. New start-ups are unable to support their long-term operations due to insufficient funds, resulting in higher entry barriers.

Low-orbit satellite（LEO） technology is changing global communications, production and lifestyles. From the Internet of Things to aviation and shipping, low-orbit satellites have shown their potential. However, with the rapid development of technology, the industry is also facing multiple challenges such as capital pressure, regulatory difficulties and environmental risks. In the future, cooperation between governments, enterprises and international organizations will be the key to breaking through bottlenecks and achieving sustainable development in the low-orbit satellite （LEO）industry.

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