Laptops, computers and phones – they are among the items that have shrunk in size over time as consumers demand items that are smaller, more portable and perhaps cheaper. 

But besides our daily consumer goods, did you know that even satellites are getting smaller too? 

Not only are satellites getting smaller, they also need to fly closer to the Earth to collect better quality data to power industries such as maritime, aviation and even banking. 

To do so, satellite companies now need smaller, low power and efficient, engines, and that’s exactly what our guest for today does.

Founded in 2018, Aliena is a spin-off from the Nanyang Technological University that creates propulsion engines to allow satellites to fly closer to the Earth. 

Question is – why do satellites need to fly closer to the Earth in the first place and to what extent has this got to do with the cost of satellite deployment?

Meanwhile, the firm’s propulsion engines hitched a ride on a SpaceX Falcon9 rocket last year. Its engines were deployed this year as well in a separate space mission. But what can we expect from the firm next?

On Under the Radar, Drive Time’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed the questions to Dr Mark Lim, Co-founder and CEO, Aliena.