The Kepler data relay network will adhere to optical communications standards developed by the Space Development Agency and use SDA-compatible optical user terminals.
Kepler Communications plans to begin deploying the first plane of data relay satellites in 2024 for initial services by early 2025 under the name The Kepler Network.
The Kepler data relay network is designed to provide real-time connectivity for LEO satellites that currently can only relay information when passing over approved ground stations.
Diane Burchett is the vice president of engineering for Kepler.
Kepler is creating infrastructure to support communication needs of the space industry by bringing internet to space.
The Kepler Network will provide constant connectivity to space assets, enabling real-time reception of mission-critical data.
The Kepler Network will provide real-time, always-on communication to satellites and other space-borne assets.
The two satellites will carry Kepler’s Ku- and S-band payloads to test and validate inter-satellite communication and high-capacity data downlinking technology.
Momentus Space launched its first Vigoride mission on 2022-05-25 on a Falcon 9 without Kepler onboard.
Kepler-20 and Kepler-21 will have an S-band terminal to test inter-satellite links.
After separating from the launch vehicle, D-Orbit intends to use ION to drop Kepler’s satellites into a sun-synchronous orbit between 500 and 600 km.
The first Spire satellites equipped with Kepler’s Ku-Band Service are scheduled to launch in early 2023.
Kepler has delivered an information rate of 240 Mbps from LEO using a Kymeta flat panel antenna.
Kepler is developing an upgraded path for its Ku-Band Service that would support 2.5 Gbps.
Kepler’s Ku-Band Service is offered as a hosted-payload solution that combines a physical Ku-band payload, data transmission using Kepler’s spectrum licenses, and terrestrial ground infrastructure into one solution.
Kepler has delivered an information rate of more than 300 Mbps from LEO using a 3.4-meter dish.
Kepler plans to test its data-relay terminal on a Spire nanosatellite slated to launch late in 2022.
Kepler’s Global Data Services (GDS) has achieved more than 300 megabits per second of data speeds from LEO to a 3.4-meter ground dish and 240 megabits per second to a Kymeta flat panel antenna using its Ku-band technology.
Kepler raised $60,000,000 in June to support its business expansion plans.
Spire’s deal with Kepler enables Spire to add high-speed Ku-band capabilities to its low Earth orbit fleet under Kepler’s existing regulatory licenses and includes an option to scale up to 50 satellites.