Kleos chief executive Andy Bowyer said the appointment of Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT) marked the next milestone towards revenue generation, starting after the commissioning of the Kleos’ Scouting Mission Satellites.
“One of the keys to our success lies in the choice of technological partners. We have appointed Kongsberg as they are one of the world leaders for data reception and near real time Earth observation services,” he said.
“Kleos is proud to work with Kongsberg, with 50 years’ experience in a fast growing and challenging industry and environment.”
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Kleos, which based in Luxembourg and listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in August last year, plans a constellation of 20 small satellites able to geo-locate maritime radio transmissions.
That allows accurate location of vessels in distress, as well as those not broadcasting automatic identification system (AIS) signals.
Kleos said that would allow governments and organisations to detect activity such as drug and people smuggling, illegal fishing and piracy, as well as identify those in need of search and rescue at sea.
Kleos said KSAT was a world leading provider of communication services for spacecraft and launch vehicles with an extensive and uniquely located global ground network. KSAT also provides advanced monitoring services.
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Kleos’ satellites will initially transmit observation data to the KSAT downlink ground station at Svalbard in Norway.
Kleos will have access to additional ground stations within the KSAT network, currently consisting of 15 locations worldwide through the KSAT Lite platform, which can provide back-up facilities and enlarged flexibility for Kleos.
KSAT comprises a global network of ground stations at sites, with more than 170 remotely controlled antennas, providing an optimised service for satellites in polar, inclined and equatorial orbits.
KSAT is owned half by Space Norway AS and half by Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace AS.
Space Norway AS was established in 1995 as a state-owned enterprise of the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries.
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