Kepler Communications is preparing to launch the first ten satellites of its optical data relay constellation in January 2026, marking a major milestone for the 10 year old company.
The mission, flying aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, will inaugurate Kepler’s operational system designed to bring real-time, laser-based connectivity and in-orbit computing to commercial and government customers.
It was a year ago that Kepler announced a strategic shift for its optical data relay network with Kepler CEO and co-founder Mina Mitry stating, “Kepler has closely watched optical technology evolve and made the decision to adjust our strategy to develop an optical data relay infrastructure that modernizes communications for commercial and government customers.”
At the time of the shift, Kepler said in order to comply with updated FCC rules it needed to make the change. “To comply with FCC regulations, a company must submit a request to the FCC if it intends to make substantive changes to a licensed system, such as changes to the constellation size or to the size and weight of the individual satellite. Kepler’s system changes reflect compliance with updated FCC rules, including the requirement for a satellite to deorbit within a 5-year period.”
The change included a substantial redesign of the network and satellites. No longer would the satellite design see them build 12 kg sized satellites. Instead, they opted for substantially larger 300-kilogram class satellites packed with a variety of technology to meet the demands of a changing marketplace.
As for the technology, Kepler says the new satellites will have a minimum of four optical terminals that enable “high-throughput, low-latency laser links between space, air, and ground assets.” They also noted that the system “is designed for compatibility with the U.S. Space Development Agency’s (SDA) optical communications standards.” We’ll note that SDA reports directly to the United States Space Force.
Kepler launched two pathfinder satellites, ÆTHER-1 and ÆTHER-2, in Nov. 2023 which it said “validated SDA-compatible space-to-space, space-to-ground, and space-to-air optical communication links.” The latter being a noteworthy milestone.
Kepler added their optical data relay network combines high-capacity communications with advanced on-orbit compute, enabling data to be processed and analyzed directly in space rather than waiting for downlink to Earth.
Each satellite supports distributed GPU and CPU processing and storage, an important step allowing the constellation to be a cloud platform in space. The platform also “features modular interfaces for hosted payloads, allowing customers to integrate sensors, hardware, or software directly.” This, the company says, will allow “real-time Earth observation analytics, autonomous mission operations, and AI-driven decision-making in orbit.”
At least one customer is public. In April Kepler announced that Axiom Space had purchased “two initial on-orbit computing payloads.”
On the new capabilities in its optical data relay constellation, Mitry said, “Optical data relay is redefining how space systems communicate, operate, and deliver value. It removes the high latency and bottlenecks of traditional RF links and allows our customers to move data continuously, securely, and at the speed of light. With real-time connectivity and advanced computing in orbit, operators can unlock new possibilities for defence and intelligence, real-time situational awareness, commercial innovation, and sustained human operations in space. Together, these advancements are creating the foundation for a truly connected space economy.”