Kepler Communications awards service agreement to Momentus

Momentus Inc. and Kepler Communications Inc. have signed a launch service agreement to deploy two additional satellites for Kepler's GEN1 constellation in 2021. Momentus' rideshare service will include launch provisions and delivery to the customer's desired orbital altitude while maintaining the SSO inclination using Momentus' Vigoride transfer vehicle.

The GEN1 platform supports both Kepler's Global Data Service, a wideband high-capacity data service, and EverywhereIoT, a narrowband solution for Internet of Things applications. With deployment beginning in late 2020, Kepler's GEN1 constellation is the first to offer both wideband and narrowband services from LEO.

The two new satellites will deliver additional commercial capacity for Kepler's Global Data Service and provide additional support for on-going technology demonstrations for EverywhereIoT.

For communications and IoT satellites, the Local Time of the Ascending Node (LTAN/LTDN) is important in terms of offering fleet coverage diversity so that a satellite operator can offer data and analytics over a variety of times.

Once in orbit, Momentus' Vigoride transfer vehicle can change the LTAN/LTDN of a spacecraft deployed by using precession - a change in the orientation of the rotational axis of a rotating body. Kepler will be a prominent customer for Momentus' LTAN shift service as they build out their constellation.

Jared Bottoms, Director, Space Systems at Kepler said "Securing this launch with Momentus represents a key milestone in the deployment of our GEN1 constellation. We look forward to the successful launch, and the benefits of the Vigoride service. Assurance on an accurate LTAN insertion is key for Kepler as we serve users on a global scale, and this played a significant role in our selection of Momentus for this mission."

Mikhail Kokorich, CEO of Momentus, said "Momentus is honored to enable Kepler's IOT constellation and will efficiently deploy their GEN1 satellites to precise and specific orbits, thereby enabling Kepler to expand their commercial service."

Related Links
Kepler Space
Momentus
The latest information about the Commercial Satellite Industry

Tweet

Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.

SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly

paypal only

SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once

credit card or paypal

SpaceX launches 60 more Starlink broadband satellites
Washington DC (UPI) Oct 19, 2020
SpaceX launched its 14th group of 60 satellites from Florida under blue skies Sunday for the company's Starlink broadband network, which is approaching a full-scale public trial period. Liftoff occurred on time at 8:25 a.m. EDT aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center. The launch boosted the number of satellites in orbit to nearly 800. After the previous Starlink launch Oct. 6, SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk tweeted that the launch would soon allow it to ... read more