JivaJet Introduces Air-Breathing Plasma Propulsion to Unlock Ultra VLEO at spaceNEXT 2026
DR. ANMOL TAPLOO OUTLINES HOW ADAPTIVE PLASMA THRUSTERS COULD REFINE MANEUVERABILITY, COST, AND CAPABILITY IN THE LOWEST OPERATIONAL ORBIT AROUND EARTH
At spaceNEXT 2026, one of the most technically ambitious conversations didn’t focus on deep space — it focused on going lower.
Much lower.
In his main stage keynote, Surviving & Thriving in Ultra VLEO, Anmol Taploo, CTO and Co-Founder of JivaJet, made the case that the next disruptive domain in the space economy lies between 80 and 150 kilometers above Earth’s surface — a region he describes as strategically advantageous but technically unforgiving.
Ultra Very Low Earth Orbit (Ultra VLEO) sits below traditional Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and well beneath the 200 km threshold most emerging players are targeting. It is dense, drag-heavy, and operationally complex.
But it may also be transformational.
Why Ultra VLEO?
Satellites operating in Ultra VLEO gain several structural advantages:
Up to 10x higher image resolution due to proximity
Reduced communication latency
Greater tactical maneuverability
Persistent ISR capabilities
Improved IoT and low-power wide-area network potential
Natural debris mitigation through atmospheric drag
Unlike higher orbits, satellites in Ultra VLEO naturally deorbit and burn up when their mission ends, mitigating long-term debris accumulation and reducing Kessler Syndrome risk.
“The same atmospheric drag that creates the challenge,” Taploo explained, “also cleans up after the mission.”
The tradeoff is propulsion. Atmospheric drag at these altitudes is intense. Conventional satellites cannot survive long without continuous thrust.
JivaJet’s solution: eliminate carried propellant altogether.
Air as Propellant
Founded in April 2024 by researchers emerging from plasma propulsion work conducted alongside Professor Michael Keidar, JivaJet is developing a hypersonic air-breathing plasma thruster (HiAPT).
Instead of carrying xenon or other propellants, the system ingests atmospheric air molecules at orbital velocity (approximately 8 km/s), ionizes them into plasma, and accelerates them electromagnetically to generate thrust.
Crucially, JivaJet eliminates the need for a compressor — a component that would otherwise reduce molecule velocity before re-acceleration, increasing drag and power demands. By maintaining hypersonic flow and ionizing in-stream, the system reduces complexity and improves practicality in Ultra VLEO conditions.
The concept transforms atmospheric density from liability into asset.
Infinite in-orbit propellant.
Demonstrated Performance and Traction
JivaJet’s foundational technology builds upon prior plasma thrusters that have already flown three space missions. According to Taploo, internal analysis shows potential launch cost reductions of up to 79% compared to conventional electric propulsion systems.
Recent publications demonstrate thrust levels exceeding 1.6 newtons using air-breathing plasma — an order-of-magnitude improvement in thrust-to-power ratio relative to traditional electric propulsion.
Since incorporating in 2024, the company has:
Participated in DARPA’s Charge Harmony program
Won SBIR/SPi awards
Raised pre-seed funding
Filed multiple patents
Begun facility expansion
Secured early joint venture and acquisition interest
The company is targeting a $10 million raise to fund flight demonstrations — one in LEO and one in Ultra VLEO — to advance toward TRL-9 readiness.
From Thrusters to Adaptive Platforms
While propulsion is the near-term product, Taploo outlined a broader long-term vision: adaptive Ultra VLEO platforms.
Because satellites at these altitudes operate closer to Earth, they require smaller antennas, lower link budgets, and benefit from increased revisit times. This opens new possibilities for:
Secure communications relays
Edge AI computing in orbit
Low-power IoT network services
Space domain awareness and debris monitoring
Tactical defense applications
Ultra VLEO satellites, Taploo noted, could function like dynamic communications towers orbiting the planet.
The key differentiator is adaptability. Atmospheric density fluctuates in this regime, requiring propulsion systems that respond dynamically.
“That adaptability,” he said, “is what we’re building for.”
Expanding the Operational Map of Space
spaceNEXT focuses on commercialization pathways and the next generation of space-enabled infrastructure. JivaJet’s approach underscores how innovation at the propulsion layer can unlock entirely new operational territories.
Ultra VLEO is not merely a lower orbit.
It is a new economic domain.
And as Taploo concluded:
“Innovation possible with plasma.”
