HAPS AS A COMPLEMENTARY LAYER IN EARTH OBSERVATION AND SATELLITE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS: A LAYERED HYBRID APPROACH

Speaker: Valentin Canales, B2Space, SpainThe integration of high-altitude platform systems (HAPS) into Earth observation and communication systems establishes a “layered hybrid approach” that strengthens the response capacity and coverage of current satellite constellations. Operating between 18 and 25 kilometers in altitude, HAPS provide a strategic intermediate layer that complements both low Earth orbit (LEO) and geostationary orbit (GEO) satellites, addressing gaps in coverage, revisit frequency, and real-time data accuracy.