WORKSHOP ON OPERATIONALIZING VERY LOW EARTH ORBIT (Natl Acad), Aug 20, 2025, DC/online, 8:30 am -12:30 pm ET

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will hold a half-day workshop on August 20, 2025 from 8:30 am-12:30 pm ET to discuss “Operationalizing very Low Earth Orbit” (vLEO), which is below 400 km.  It is part of the Academies work on “Transformative Science & Technology for the Department of Defense.”

The workshop will take place in-person and online. Registration is required for both.

The in-person meeting is at the National Academy of Sciences building, 2101 Constitution Ave, NW, Washington, DC.

More information is on the event’s website, which says:

As global threats evolve and technological frontiers expand, the operationalization of Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) presents a strategic inflection point—unlocking unprecedented capabilities for real-time surveillance, resilient communications, and rapid-response defense systems.

Join the National Academies for a workshop session that will explore the unique environmental conditions of VLEO and the implications for mission design, highlighting opportunities for enhanced Earth observation, telecommunications, and other emerging applications. The session will also examine key technical challenges, such as propulsion, aerodynamics, materials, systems design, situational awareness, ground infrastructure, and modeling, and identify areas where cross-sector collaboration between academia, industry, and the Department of Defense can drive innovation and enable sustained, effective operations in this dynamic orbital environment.

This workshop session will bring together experts and stakeholders to share knowledge, discuss challenges, identify solutions, and chart a path forward for the innovative utilization of very Low Earth Orbit and develop common understanding of the benefits, risks, and opportunities presented by vLEO.