Low-Earth orbit (LEO) constellations are large networks of satellites that orbit closer to the Earth’s surface thereby offering several advantages over traditional geosynchronous satellites, including lower latency, higher data rates, and global coverage. They can enable a wide range of applications including notably ubiquitous broadband communications, high-resolution Earth observation, and a variety of military and surveillance missions. They also can support “edge computing” in space to minimize the amount of data that must be transmitted down to Earth. 

LEO constellations have experienced significant growth in recent years, driven in part by the dramatic reduction in launch costs led by SpaceX and others. Recoverable, low-cost commercial launch vehicles have exponentially reduced the cost of putting a satellite into orbit