By Julie Høncke Keldorff, AAU Communication and Public Affairs
Photo: Lasse Møller Badstue

Since arriving at Aalborg University in 2019, Israel has made satellite communication the focal point of his research. It began with a postdoc position that didn’t include satellites—but a meeting with Professor Beatriz Soret changed his trajectory. Today, he plays a central role in international research projects ranging from digital twins and satellite networks to quantum communication and lunar missions. This autumn, he will help bring together researchers, students, and decision-makers for a space conference at Musikkens Hus in Aalborg, hosted by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science and AAU. 

Satellites for All – Not Just the Few

Israel is working to make internet access more equitable, regardless of where in the world people live. Satellite networks are currently the only technology capable of covering the entire globe. As satellites orbit the Earth, they pass over different regions and can deliver internet—even where there are no mobile towers or cables. But launching satellites isn’t enough. It’s also about how their capacity is distributed. If many people in one area use the network simultaneously, the connection may weaken, while other areas with fewer users enjoy better performance. This creates inequality.

That’s why Israel and his colleagues have developed methods to distribute satellite resources more fairly. This allows users in different countries to receive the same quality of connection, regardless of how many are online. It’s an important step toward more democratic access to the internet.

The work doesn’t stop there. To meet rising demand, commercial actors are launching thousands of satellites into orbit, risking overcrowding in the lowest layer of space, known as low Earth orbit. If everyone builds their own closed networks, it can lead to inefficiency and wasted resources. Israel is therefore also advocating for a more sustainable approach, where satellite networks—like the internet—are built on shared standards. This enables systems from different actors to collaborate and share information. In this way, fewer satellites can meet more needs, and we can avoid turning space into a traffic jam.

Satellites as Lifelines

When natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes or power outages strike, the systems we normally rely on—mobile towers, cables and data centres—can collapse. And precisely in those moments when people most need to stay connected, the connection may disappear.

This is where satellites come in. Israel Leyva-Mayorga researches how satellites can operate independently of Earth and ensure communication even when everything else fails. But this requires satellites to become smarter. They must not only transmit signals—they must perceive their surroundings, understand the situation, and act autonomously. That’s why Israel is working to make satellites intelligent using three key technologies:

• Sensing, so satellites can “feel” the weather and detect signs of, for example, floods or earthquakes.

• Edge computing, which enables satellites to process data directly in space without relying on Earth-based data centres.

• Artificial intelligence (AI), which helps satellites analyse complex patterns and adapt quickly, so they can deliver stable and efficient communication—even under extreme conditions.

To improve these systems, Israel works with digital twins — virtual copies of satellites updated with real-world data. These allow for simulation and testing of solutions before deployment and help satellites make decisions in real time. The goal is clear: to create satellite networks that keep people connected, even when the ground shakes beneath them.

The Associate Professor Who Lives in Science

For Israel, teaching is not a sideline to research—it’s the driving force. He believes students have the potential to generate more knowledge than he ever could. Or as he puts it:

“I love learning and discovering new things. Moreover, I believe the best way to increase my contribution to science and technology is through teaching, as the students we educate have a far greater potential to generate new knowledge than I do alone.”

He is part of AAU’s Connectivity Section, where freedom to pursue ideas and collaborate across disciplines is part of everyday life. Here, he works with colleagues from Denmark, Spain, the USA and across Europe—and with students who are invited to participate at the forefront of research.

A Glimpse into the Future

Israel is involved in the Danish lunar mission Máni, which has been proposed to the European Space Agency (ESA) and aims to map the moon’s surface in 3D to create new opportunities for future lunar landings. He is also part of the CLASSIQUE centre for quantum communication, where satellites will play a key role in transmitting information over long distances using entirely new methods.

He envisions a future where satellites are a natural part of our communication infrastructure, and where the difference between being online via a mobile tower or a satellite is invisible to the user. In a future 6G network, AI and satellites will work together to deliver intelligent services—even in disaster zones and remote corners of the globe.

Much is on the horizon, but for now, Israel is focused on something more down-to-earth: this autumn, he will help bring together researchers, students and decision-makers for a major space conference in Aalborg, where research, technology and society will meet. There will be sessions on space research for a broad audience, space-based security and geopolitical topics, as well as research and innovation in satellite communication, Earth observation, space robotics and astrophysics. As he explains:

“They will give participants insight into new technologies and groundbreaking research. There will also be a poster session showcasing exciting space-related activities from students and researchers, giving attendees the chance to get close to new developments in the space sector in Denmark and Europe.”

One of Israel’s personal highlights at the conference is a dedicated session titled “Space Connect North and the future of European satellite systems”, which he is helping to organise. Here, researchers and companies from the North Jutland innovation network Space Connect North—comprising more than 15 high-tech actors with Aalborg University at its centre—will gather. Together with representatives from the EU’s new satellite programme IRIS2, they will discuss how regional strengths and European initiatives can work together to shape a world-leading innovation environment in satellite communication.