Kreios Space is a Spanish spacetech startup developing the first generation of satellites capable of sustained operation in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO), at altitudes as low as 200 km from Earth. The company's core innovation is a proprietary Air-Breathing Electric Propulsion (ABEP) system — a helicon plasma thruster that ingests residual atmospheric gases as propellant and runs entirely on solar power, eliminating the need for onboard fuel tanks and enabling indefinite operation in an orbit previously considered unworkable due to atmospheric drag.

By flying satellites closer to Earth than any commercial operator before, Kreios unlocks up to 3× higher imaging resolution (targeting sub-10 cm optical resolution), 7× higher data rates, and direct-to-device 5G/broadband connectivity without the need for large ground antennas. These capabilities translate into transformative applications across Earth observation, defense and intelligence, precision agriculture, maritime monitoring, disaster response, and global telecommunications. Satellites in VLEO also naturally deorbit and burn up at end of life, making the orbit inherently debris-free.

Founded in 2021 by six aerospace engineering graduates from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Kreios is headquartered in Nigrán (Vigo), Spain, and has grown to approximately 40 people. In August 2026 the company contracted Kongsberg NanoAvionics to build the satellite bus for the world's first commercial ABEP in-orbit demonstration, targeting first flight in 2027 on an MP42 microsatellite platform paired with its K-3 thruster. The company has raised over €10 million in total funding, backed by the NATO Innovation Fund, JOIN Capital, Grow Venture Partners, Xesgalicia, Tasivia Global, and SpaceQuest Ventures.