A group of young engineers from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, within the framework of the Emprèn UPC program, has embarked on a true space mission to develop a sustainable and inexhaustible energy source that combats environmental impact on Earth, while also managing to reduce the number of debris orbiting in space.
The number of satellites has multiplied in recent years, reaching 5,000 in 2022 and with an estimate of reaching 100,000 by the end of the decade. The European Space Agency (ESA) estimates that almost a million hulks, which have become obsolete due to lack of fuel or the end of their operations, wander aimlessly through space, posing a series of dangers for future expeditions and causing interference in terrestrial communications.
In this context, they have created the startup Kreios Space, a pioneering project in Spain that has launched the manufacture of a new electric propulsion system for nanosatellites, based on a helical wave engine, which would remain suspended in space by atmospheric air and solar energy collected by photovoltaic panels on its sides.
With this type of engine, it will be possible to access the lowest Earth orbits for the first time, around 100 and 300 km from the Earth's surface. Orbiting at that altitude has significant advantages for space operators, as they will be able to obtain higher resolution images (it would mean an improvement between four and sixteen times superior), and they will significantly optimize telecommunications systems.
The founders of Kreios Space have set the goal of completing the first fully functional system in 2024. To do this, they should raise an investment of 2.5 million euros in the next two investment rounds planned for this year. Initially, the startup has received funding from the European Union's Galáctica program, endowed with 20,000 euros, and is already closing collaborations with different entities for the joint development of missions in a real aerospace environment.
For now, the project is possible thanks to the students and the team of academic professionals from UPC who have helped them to promote it. Once the engine is put on the market, those responsible foresee the hiring of personnel for the scientific and commercial areas. The economic sustenance of Kreios Space will depend on the sale of the program license, as well as engineering consulting for interested companies.
Kreios Space already has different international recognitions, such as the award from the Barcelona Activa 2022 acceleration program, the European Hackathon 2021 award, and now the recognition granted by the Galáctica program is added. In addition, it received one of the awards from the Explorer 2021 competition promoted by Banco Santander. It has also been one of the business initiatives presented at the 4YFN 2022, which took place in parallel to the Mobile World Congress (MWC Barcelona) edition.