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TARS

retired
CommunicationsLEOCOSPAR 2020-061AZLaunched 9/3/2020
Admin Edit
Mission & Launch
Launch Mission
SSMS
Launch Vehicle
Vega
Launch Date
9/3/2020
Last Contact
11/22/2024
Orbit & Mass
Orbit Class
LEO
Altitude
533 km
Inclination
97.52 deg
Dry Mass
15 kg
Total Mass
15 kg
Payload Classification
Mission Type
Communications
Payload Category
COM
Payload Class
B
Organizations
Operator
Kepler Communications
Manufacturer
AAC Clyde Space
Constellation
Name
Kepler Network
Active Satellites
12
Planned Satellites
18
Registry
COSPAR ID
2020-061AZ
UN Registration
ST/SG/SER.E/1060
Track
Mentions
5
All verified mentions of this spacecraft in source documents.
0.0-5.0
Actions

Tethered aerostats operated by TARS relay data to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to support real-time monitoring of border activity.

RelationshipsCapabilityValue 4.0Nov 20, 2023U.S. Customs and Border Protection awards TARS contract to QinetiQ US

AAC Clyde is under contract to build a third and final demo satellite for Kepler named TARS, slated to launch in mid-2019.

PlanRelationshipsValue 4.5Aug 29, 2018Kepler Communications opens launch bids for Gen-1 LEO constellation

The United Kingdom’s Satellite Applications Catapult is helping Kepler fund the TARS mission and establish an office in the United Kingdom.

RelationshipsFinancialGrowthValue 4.0Aug 24, 2018ÅAC Clyde to build Kepler Communications TARS satellite

TARS is the final prototype Kepler plans to launch before sending ten GEN1 satellites into orbit in 2020.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Aug 24, 2018ÅAC Clyde to build Kepler Communications TARS satellite

TARS will carry a full suite of upgraded communications and processing units developed by Kepler.

CapabilityRelationshipsValue 4.0Aug 24, 2018ÅAC Clyde to build Kepler Communications TARS satellite