Inside Italian defence tech (2026)
Jul 17
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Vigo, SpainVigo, Spain
Kreios Space
Builds air-breathing electric propulsion systems that allow satellites to operate continuously in Very Low Earth Orbit at around 200 km altitude, using atmospheric air and solar power in place of onboard fuel.
Founded 20191-50 employeesBarcelona, Spain5 open positionsWebsiteLinkedIn
Space & Satellites
Products & Solutions
K-3 Thruster
Kreios Space's third-generation helicon plasma thruster and the core of their air-breathing electric propulsion system. The K-3 captures atmospheric particles at altitudes between 150 and 300 km, compresses them up to 100x and ionises the resulting flow to generate continuous thrust. It operates on air and solar energy only, requiring no onboard propellant tanks, and has been tested with oxygen, nitrogen, argon and hydrogen. The K-3 represents the flight-ready version of the ABEP system, with in-orbit demonstration planned as part of the company's first two test satellites.
About
Kreios Space is a satellite propulsion startup founded in 2021, headquartered in Vigo, Spain. The company was started by a team of aerospace engineers who met at ESEIAAT, the Terrassa School of Industrial, Aerospace and Audiovisual Engineering, and has grown into a 17-person team focused on making Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) commercially viable. VLEO, the band of space roughly 150 to 300 km above Earth, has historically been off-limits for long-duration satellite missions because atmospheric drag pulls satellites out of orbit within days.
Offices
Vigo, SpainBacked by
NATO Innovation FundJOIN CapitalGrow Venture PartnersXesgaliciaTasivia GlobalSpaceQuest Ventures
Customers & Partners
Aistech SpaceTelespazio IbericaESA (European Space Agency)Agencia Espacial EspañolaDIANA (NATO defence accelerator)
Timeline
2025-11
Ben Olivier joined as President of the Board.
2025-09
Raised EUR 8 million seed round led by NATO Innovation Fund and JOIN Capital to fund first two test satellites.
2024-07
Closed EUR 2.3 million pre-seed funding round.
2024
Won the first European-Japanese Space Startup Competition, organised by ESA.
2023-02
SpaceQuest Ventures invested in the company.
2022-02
Won the Barcelona Activa startup pre-acceleration programme prize.
2021
Founded in 2021 by a team of aerospace engineers from ESEIAAT, with the K-1 laboratory prototype completed and validated.
Open Positions (5)
Kreios Space
Builds air-breathing electric propulsion systems that allow satellites to operate continuously in Very Low Earth Orbit at around 200 km altitude, using atmospheric air and solar power in place of onboard fuel.
Founded 20191-50 employeesBarcelona, Spain5 open positionsWebsiteLinkedIn
Space & Satellites
Products & Solutions
K-3 Thruster
Kreios Space's third-generation helicon plasma thruster and the core of their air-breathing electric propulsion system. The K-3 captures atmospheric particles at altitudes between 150 and 300 km, compresses them up to 100x and ionises the resulting flow to generate continuous thrust. It operates on air and solar energy only, requiring no onboard propellant tanks, and has been tested with oxygen, nitrogen, argon and hydrogen. The K-3 represents the flight-ready version of the ABEP system, with in-orbit demonstration planned as part of the company's first two test satellites.
Open Positions (5)
About
Kreios Space is a satellite propulsion startup founded in 2021, headquartered in Vigo, Spain. The company was started by a team of aerospace engineers who met at ESEIAAT, the Terrassa School of Industrial, Aerospace and Audiovisual Engineering, and has grown into a 17-person team focused on making Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) commercially viable. VLEO, the band of space roughly 150 to 300 km above Earth, has historically been off-limits for long-duration satellite missions because atmospheric drag pulls satellites out of orbit within days.
Offices
Vigo, SpainBacked by
NATO Innovation FundJOIN CapitalGrow Venture PartnersXesgaliciaTasivia GlobalSpaceQuest Ventures
Customers & Partners
Aistech SpaceTelespazio IbericaESA (European Space Agency)Agencia Espacial EspañolaDIANA (NATO defence accelerator)
Timeline
2025-11
Ben Olivier joined as President of the Board.
2025-09
Raised EUR 8 million seed round led by NATO Innovation Fund and JOIN Capital to fund first two test satellites.
2024-07
Closed EUR 2.3 million pre-seed funding round.
2024
Won the first European-Japanese Space Startup Competition, organised by ESA.
2023-02
SpaceQuest Ventures invested in the company.
2022-02
Won the Barcelona Activa startup pre-acceleration programme prize.
2021
Founded in 2021 by a team of aerospace engineers from ESEIAAT, with the K-1 laboratory prototype completed and validated.
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