New Material Lets Satellites Survive 8 Years in Harsh Orbit

Satellites circling close to Earth face a silent killer that tears them apart atom by atom, but a breakthrough material now promises to keep them flying for years longer.

Deposition Sciences, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary, has perfected a thermal coating called Sunshade that survives brutal conditions in very low Earth orbit. Testing shows the material can handle eight years of constant bombardment from atomic oxygen and ultraviolet radiation, the twin forces that usually destroy spacecraft surfaces within months.

The company has been refining this space-age sunscreen for over 20 years. Their latest tests exposed the material to simulated atomic oxygen levels matching real orbit conditions, while simultaneously blasting it with UV light to replicate the sun's unfiltered rays.

The results surprised even the engineers. The material showed almost no change in performance from beginning to end of life, maintaining its thermal control properties despite the punishment.

Very low Earth orbit sits between 90 and 450 miles up, close enough that traces of atmosphere still linger. At orbital speeds of 17,000 miles per hour, even thin air becomes a sandblaster, and individual oxygen atoms rip electrons from satellite surfaces.

Most satellites avoid this zone because components deteriorate too quickly. But very low orbits offer huge advantages: sharper Earth imaging, better communications, and cheaper launches.

The Ripple Effect spreads far beyond longer satellite life. Making very low orbit practical opens doors for better weather forecasting, more detailed climate monitoring, and improved internet coverage in remote areas. Scientists could place research satellites closer to atmospheric phenomena they study. Emergency responders could access higher resolution imagery during disasters.

The coating comes as both free film and tape, making it easy to apply to different satellite surfaces. Engineers can now wrap critical components in protection without adding significant weight or complexity to their designs.

Twenty years of development has led to this moment where space becomes more accessible. When satellites can survive longer in cheaper orbits, more organizations can afford to launch missions that benefit people on the ground.

The path to orbit just got a little easier, and the view from up there will last a whole lot longer.