GEONMI-MEMS Architecture Claims 40% Weight Cut for VLEO Satellites via Plasma Harvesting

A developer has proposed the GEONMI-MEMS VLEO Architecture, a software-defined system aimed at extending the operational life of satellites flying at approximately 250 km altitude, where atmospheric drag rapidly depletes conventional fuel. Rather than countering drag, the design harvests ambient ionospheric plasma at orbital velocities of around 7.5 km/s to assist micro-propulsion, while safely redirecting electrostatic discharge away from onboard batteries. The system comprises two subsystems — GEONMI-MEMS VLEO Engine 2 for autonomous propulsion modeling and AeroCore-3 for real-time energy harvesting — both governed by deterministic C++17 software running at a fixed 100Hz control loop. The developer claims the architecture reduces satellite wet mass by 40%, potentially stretching VLEO satellite lifespans from months to years and allowing more revenue-generating payloads per launch. The project is described as proprietary intellectual property intended for civil and commercial space applications, with source code published on GitHub.
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