All preparations by Kleos on the Kleos Scouting Mission satellites are on track for mission readiness and will be onsite, ready for flight preparation as soon as the Rocket Lab customer area is ready to accept the Kleos team for integration activities.
Satellite testing will conclude with a complete system test using KSAT (Kleos Scouting Mission ground station service provider) specialist ground station equipment, immediately prior to flight acceptance review and dispatch to launch site.
Andy Bower, CEO of Kleos Space, said, "Kleos technical team have applied themselves exceptionally well to achieve this stage mission-readiness for the Kleos Scouting Mission and continue to optimise the post launch phase of the mission to ensure revenue generating data starts flowing as quick as possible."
==
==
All four satellites have successfully completed all the necessary checks with Rocket Lab’s in-house designed and built Maxwell dispenser, which is used for deployment from the Electron kick stage to low-Earth orbit.
Pre-flight testing of critical functions within the detection systems on the satellites used for the creation of the Kleos geolocation data have performed significantly better than specification, this improvement will further increase accuracy and product value.
The Kleos Scouting Mission satellites are to be commissioned in a precise 500-kilometre sun-synchronous orbit as part of a rideshare mission with Rocket Lab, which has advised that the 14-day launch window will be publicly notified approximately 20 days prior to the target launch date.
"They have also worked well with GomSpace to improve the satellites' capabilities, further enhancing our offer to the market," Bower added.
PROMOTED CONTENT
These comments were echoed by Rocket Lab's senior vice president of global launch services, Lars Hoffman, who welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with Kleos.
"We’re excited to give the Kleos Scouting Mission satellites a first-class ride to orbit on Electron. We’ve worked closely with the Kleos team to design a tailored rideshare mission that lays the strong foundation for a future constellation," he said.
Kleos Space is a space enabled, activity-based intelligence, data as a service company based in Luxembourg. Kleos Space aims to guard borders, protect assets and save lives by delivering global activity-based intelligence and geolocation as a service.
The Kleos Scouting Mission will deliver commercially available data and perform as a technology demonstration. KSM will be the keystone for a later global high capacity constellation.
As the world’s leading small satellite launch provider, Rocket Lab provides frequent and reliable access to orbit for small satellites. Rocket Lab designs, manufactures and launches Electron, the world’s first fully carbon composite orbital launch vehicle, powered by 3D printed engines. Electron launches from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, the world’s only private orbital launch site.
Since its first launch in May 2017, Rocket Lab has precisely delivered 28 satellites to orbit on Electron for a range of government and commercial mission partners, including NASA, the US Department of Defense Space Test Program and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
Receive the latest developments and updates on Australia’s space industry direct to your inbox. Subscribe today to Space Connect here.
