SAN FRANCISCO – Spanish startup Kreios Space announced plans Aug. 4 to conduct the first very low Earth orbit (VLEO) demonstration of its air-breathing electric propulsion (ABEP) in a Kongsberg NanoAvionics microsatellite bus.

“Partnering with NanoAvionics in our first in-orbit flight provides us with a satellite bus and market-leading experience necessary to allow us to test our new technology in confidence,” Kreios CEO Adrián Senar said in a statement.

Senar declined to comment on the timing of the flight. Kreios’ website says the “the first-ever ABEP-based VLEO mission,” will occur in 2027 with a second flight in 2028.