Revolutionizing Space with Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) and the Auriga™ Star Tracker
The Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) frontier, spanning 200–400 km, is reshaping the space industry. This altitude unlocks transformative benefits: high-resolution imagery for Earth observation, rapid satellite revisit rates for environmental studies, low-latency telecommunications, and cost-efficient launches—enabled by natural deorbiting that minimizes debris and end-of-life costs… At Sodern, we are proud to lead this evolution with our Auriga™ star tracker, engineered to thrive in VLEO’s most demanding conditions, including atomic oxygen (ATOX) challenges.
A Legacy of Reliability
With over 38 million hours of operation and a 100% mission success rate, Auriga™ star tracker stands as a proven leader. Originally developed for the Eutelsat OneWeb constellation at 1200 km, it has demonstrated its robustness across a range of missions, from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to Geostationary Orbit (GEO), and is now validated for the unique demands of VLEO.
Resilience to Radiation Constraints
Auriga™ is built to withstand the harsher radiation environments of LEO and GEO. Its tolerance to a Total Ionizing Dose (TID) exceeding 35 krad far surpasses the 14 krad maximum for a 10-year mission at 315 km. Additionally, it is immune to destructive Single Event Effects (SEE) caused by protons and heavy ions up to a LET of 60 MeV·cm²/mg, protecting satellites from cosmic rays encountered at the poles.
Triumph Over Atomic Oxygen (ATOX)
The true test in VLEO lies in resisting atomic oxygen (ATOX), a dominant corrosive factor at these altitudes. Our recent studies, conducted with ESA facilities, showcase Auriga™’s exceptional performance. Thanks to innovative design choices—such as an aluminum structure and ATOX-resistant coatings tested up to a fluence of 5.5×10²¹ atoms/cm²—Auriga™ ensures minimal performance degradation and material deterioration, delivering unmatched reliability for your missions.
Meet Us at the Small Satellite Conference 2025
Interested in learning more? The Small Satellite Conference (SmallSat) is just around the corner, and Sodern is ready for insightful discussions. Join us from August 10 to 13 in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, at ArianeGroup’s booth 319, where our team will be excited to demonstrate Auriga™’s capabilities and explore how it can support your space projects.
Contact us for more details and discover how Auriga™ can elevate your ambitions in the VLEO frontier!