High Bit Orbital Operations: Rewriting Orbital Physics for Space Mobility
Oct 16, 2025
Benjamin Schleuniger, Cofounder and CEO of Orbital Operations, shares his impressive journey from NASA to leading innovation in cryogenic spacecraft. He discusses the growing need for satellites that can maneuver in space and how cryogenic propulsion is revolutionizing orbital mobility. The episode explores cutting-edge technologies like refrigeration systems that prevent propellant loss in orbit and the intriguing strategy of using water for refueling. Benjamin also highlights the role of AI in future spacecraft, ushering in a new era of space logistics and exploration.
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Satellites Were Built Not To Roam
- Satellites were historically designed to station-keep rather than change orbit, which limits mobility and responsiveness.
- Growing adversarial and operational needs now demand much greater in-space movement and range.
Why Exhaust Velocity Trumps Mass
- Specific impulse (Isp) measures propellant efficiency like miles per gallon and drives range in space.
- Higher exhaust velocity (lighter molecules) gives outsized benefits because velocity is squared in kinetic energy.
Cryogenics Unlocks Higher Efficiency
- Cryogenic propellants like liquid hydrogen unlock much higher efficiency and thrust than storable propellants.
- The core challenge is long-duration cryo storage in orbit, which requires active refrigeration rather than passive tanks.