The in-orbit commissioning phase now commences to prepare the satellites to collect data over crucial areas of interest such as Strait of Hormuz, South China Sea, East/West Africa, Southern Sea of Japan, northern Australian coast, for example in the Timor Sea.
Kleos has secured over 100 worldwide active B2G and B2B opportunities across its pipeline in international jurisdictions including the US, UK, Latin America, Middle East, south Pacific and Australia, representing significant annual revenue following launch and commissioning.
Kleos CEO Andy Bowyer said, "This launch marks an important milestone for Kleos to start delivering our commercial and independent data to government agencies, the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) community and organisations interested in locating threats, assets or those in need of search and rescue."
While the first cluster is in orbit, Kleos remains focused on securing additional government and commercial contracts and is on track to generate first revenues in the coming months.
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The development of Kleos’ second cluster of satellites (KSF1) is already underway and, subsequent to an initial review, is expected to pass PDR within the next week. This activity is on track to have satellites procured, assembled and integrated for the mid 2021 launch slot (window opens 1 June 2021).
Kleos CTO Miles Ashcroft said, "This is the fruition of a massive amount or hard work by the team. They have made sure this has happened through the most unusual of times, and I am grateful for their dedication which has been exemplary. We are in a good position for developing our systems to exploit data, we are making fantastic progress on the next mission (KSF) already, these really are exciting times for Kleos!."
Franz Fayot, Luxembourg Minister of the Economy, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, congratulated the Kleos Space team: "With the launch of the first satellites, the team of Kleos has reached yet another milestone in the successful development of the company. Kleos and its activities in Luxembourg are a perfect showcase to demonstrate how space-related companies find here a nurturing and supportive environment with an established community of high-tech businesses, researchers, and entrepreneurs along with access to the necessary support, services and facilities."
François Bausch, Luxembourg Minister of Defence, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Mobility and Public Work, added, "It is for me of utmost importance that all our endeavours serve to keep our world, but also space, a peaceful domain. The activities of Kleos in Luxembourg and the launch of these first satellites are perfectly in line with this objective and we look forward to Kleos contributing to our efforts to build valuable data sets."
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This second mission will be named Polar Vigilance Mission and is a cluster of four satellites, launching into a sun synchronous orbit. The Polar Vigilance Mission will enhance the company’s RF geolocation data delivered by the Kleos Scouting Mission by covering areas north and south of the Scouting Mission 37-degree inclined orbit in addition to increasing overall coverage time in the equatorial region and increasing revenues.
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