By 2030, CubeSat mobility will become increasingly important as more than 25,000 satellites operate in low Earth orbit. A big part of them will be CubeSats in commercial constellations. They are used for communications, remote sensing, IoT, and navigation supplements. Meanwhile, at the popular altitudes of 500–600 km, satellite density will increase severalfold. According to an ESA report, the number of dangerous close encounters will rise by an order of magnitude.
As a result, a fundamental question arises. Is the current CubeSat architecture capable of operating in such an environment? Without built-in mobility, it seems impossible. At this rate, it is becoming an engineering requirement for staying in orbit.
LEO in 2030: The Numbers Behind the Need for CubeSat Mobility
According to the AEI Space Data Navigator, there are currently about 16,000 active satellites in low Earth orbit. The Novaspace’s Prospects for the Small Satellite Market report forecasts that operators will launch 16,900 small satellites weighing under 500 kg between 2026 and 2035.
In particular, the main increase is occurring at altitudes of 500–600 km. That’s where the majority of commercial spacecraft are already concentrated. Over the past five years, the density of objects at these altitudes has increased severalfold and will continue to rise.
Furthermore, the NASA Orbital Debris Program Office and ESA have observed a steady increase in the number of hazardous close encounters. The number of avoidance manoeuvres has increased significantly over the past three years, among operators of large constellations alone. According to the ESA Space Debris Office, there are currently more than 50,000 objects larger than 10 cm in orbit.
Finally, Bryce Tech Smallsats by the Numbers 2026 states that the majority of launches in LEO are small satellites weighing up to 600 kg. Furthermore, CubeSats remain the primary payload for commercial rideshare missions.
Physical Constraints: Why Static CubeSats No Longer Work
So, what do all these numbers mean in practice for CubeSat mobility?
- The window for safe separation after a rideshare launch is getting narrower. When launch providers deploy satellites, each one of them has very little time and space to separate from its neighbours without collision risk.
- Operators perform evasive manoeuvres more frequently. The density of objects in low Earth orbit is increasing. As a result, operators must respond to proximity warnings almost every day.
- The atmosphere drags satellites down fast. In low Earth orbit, a satellite gradually descends. If it does not have a thruster to raise its orbit back up, its operational lifespan is significantly reduced.
- It is no longer possible to just wait for the satellites to drift apart on their own. Commercial customers demand that the constellation be brought online quickly, and natural drift takes too long.
Therefore, a satellite without a propulsion system simply remains on the trajectory created by its launch vehicle and survives only as long as atmospheric drag allows. Today, this automatically places it outside the commercial market. The customer needs a managed asset, not a one-time shipment.
Regulatory Restrictions: CubeSat Mobility is a Ticket to Orbit
Meanwhile, regulators around the world are making the rules stricter. The FCC has reduced the allowed timeframe for a satellite to deorbit from 25 to 5 years after the end of its mission. An increasing number of jurisdictions are refusing to license spacecraft incapable of autonomously changing their orbit. On top of that, the ESA and national regulators are promoting uniform Space Traffic Management rules. According to new regulations, the ability to avoid collisions will be a key parameter, and operators will have to provide documentary evidence of this capability even before launch.
Consequently, in a few years, CubeSat mobility will cease to be a competitive advantage and will become a prerequisite for access to orbit. A satellite without a propulsion system simply won’t be granted a launch license.
By the end of the decade, there simply won’t be any room in the orbital environment or in regulatory requirements for CubeSats without their own propulsion. For this reason, constellation operators designing missions today must incorporate propulsion into their architectures from the beginning. It will be too late and too expensive to try to add a propulsion system to a finished satellite later.
For this reason, a water-based propulsion system for CubeSats is a solution that fully meets the safety requirements for rideshare launches and ensures the satellites’ mobility throughout their entire lifecycle.
About SteamJet Space Systems
SteamJet Space Systems is a leading UK-based provider of high-performance satellite propulsion solutions. We specialise in water-based propulsion solutions designed specifically for CubeSats and Small Satellites (SmallSats), prioritising operational safety and rapid launch integration.
By pioneering the use of green propellants and intelligent thermal engineering, SteamJet enables complex LEO (Low Earth Orbit) manoeuvres — including orbital maintenance, collision avoidance, and de-orbiting — without the risks associated with toxic hydrazine or high-pressure cold gas systems, advancing green propulsion for space missions.
Steamjet Propulsion Technology
Our modular systems are engineered for seamless integration and maximum safety compliance:
Steamjet TunaCan Thruster: A compact, high-efficiency solution for 1U-3U CubeSats.
Steamjet TunaTank Thruster: A safe, high-performance electrothermal propulsion system.
Steamjet Thruster One: Scalable propulsion for larger SmallSat constellations.
Discover how SteamJet’s sustainable space propulsion innovations are providing the safety and reliability required for the next generation of crewed and robotic missions. Contact our engineering team for technical specifications and ICDs.