Kepler Communications

SpaceX launches record-setting cluster of smallsats
A SpaceX Falcon 9 launched 143 small satellites for a wide range of customers Jan. 24 on the company's first dedicated rideshare mission, a service that poses a competitive threat to emerging small launch vehicles.

Momentus and Kepler announce service agreement
Momentus Space announced an agreement Oct. 20 with Canada’s Kepler Communications to arrange the 2021 launch of two satellites on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshare flight and delivery to their desired orbital altitude in the Vigoride in-space transportation vehicle.

Kepler launches first internally produced satellites
Canadian startup Kepler Communications launched Sept. 28 the first two satellites built in its own facility as the company ramps up its plans to deploy a constellation for data and Internet of Things services.

Kepler signs launch agreement with Exolaunch
Kepler Communications announced a launch agreement Aug. 18 with Exolaunch of Germany for two cubesats scheduled for flight in September on a Russian Soyuz rideshare mission. Under the contract, Exolaunch will provide launch, mission management, integration and deployment services for Kepler’s two six-unit XL cubesats.

Kepler decides to build its 140-satellite cubesat constellation in-house
The company said Jan. 28 it will build its constellation of 140 cubesats in a 5,000-square-foot facility it commissioned late last year at its Toronto headquarters.

Kepler books SpaceX rideshare for LEO satellites
Kepler Communications on Dec. 11 said it booked 400 kilograms of rideshare capacity with SpaceX in order to launch an unspecified number of its Internet of Things cubesat next year.

Eutelsat kickstarts IoT business with GEO Ku-band service
The service, called Eutelsat IoT First, precedes a low-Earth-orbit constellation of 25 smallsats and hosted payloads Eutelsat plans to begin launching next year.

Kepler books Soyuz for first two service-grade satellites
As it explores changes to its constellation orbit and spacecraft design, Kepler Communications on Oct. 7 said it nonetheless secured launch slots for its first two fully commercial satellites.

Kepler reviews plan for constellation architecture
Kepler Communications is reviewing the architecture for its internet-of-things constellation in response to SpaceX’s plan to revise the architecture of its Starlink constellation.

ILS Proton arrives at Baikonur • Kepler, Kymeta test antenna • GSMA takes aim at satellite spectrum
A Proton rocket for International Launch Services’ (ILS) first and only mission of the year has arrived at the Baikonur Cosmodrome for a Q4 2019 launch.

Iridium makes GMDSS progress • Kepler’s next cubesat to test new radiator • Scisys breaks ground in Germany
Iridium moved closer to launching an emergency maritime communications service by signing a public services agreement with the International Mobile Satellite Organization.

PSLV launch a boost for smallsat IoT, remote-sensing constellations
A total of 30 small satellites flew as secondary payloads with the Indian Space Research Organisation’s HysIS hyperspectral imaging satellite when it launched Nov. 29 from the Satish Dhawan Space Center on the Indian island of Sriharikota at 11:28 p.m. Eastern.

Kepler Communications raises $16 million for telecom constellation
Canadian satellite startup Kepler Communications raised $16 million from investors, securing funding to build and launch its first-generation constellation of up to 15 satellites, the company announced today.

Kepler, Phasor test flat panel antenna with LEO cubesat
Startups Kepler Communications and Phasor said Sept. 10 that they successfully demonstrated a link between Kepler’s cubesat and a Phasor flat panel antenna.

Kepler Communications opens launch bids for Gen-1 LEO constellation
Canadian startup Kepler Communications announced Aug. 28 it is accepting bids from launch providers to orbit its first-generation constellation of up to 15 cubesats, but with the stipulation that the launches must happen within two years.