NewOrbit Space

NewOrbit was founded in 2021 in Reading by chief executive Anatolii Papulov and chief technology officer Ruslan Rakhimov, a former senior spacecraft researcher. The company develops satellites for Very Low Earth Orbit, the 200 to 300km band historically reserved for spy satellites and the International Space Station because conventional spacecraft cannot hold altitude there against atmospheric drag. NewOrbit answers this with a proprietary air-breathing propulsion system that lets its satellites sustain these ultra-low orbits for up to five years, enabling drone-resolution Earth imagery and direct-to-phone connectivity at a fraction of the cost of higher constellations. In June 2026 the company raised an $18.5M Series A led by Voyager Ventures, with Atlantic.vc, Lifeline Ventures, Illusian, and Custos participating, alongside angels including former NVIDIA chief scientist David Kirk. The funding supports NewOrbit first mission and a UK satellite production facility.