Highlights
- Rocket Lab confirm launch window of August 2019
- Kleos’ Scouting Mission satellites assembled, launch pod fit check successful
- Pre-flight check out of critical satellite detection systems outperform specification improving the value of the Kleos data products
- Building a strong foundation for future constellations
- All Satellites pass necessary checks for Launch
“Rocket Lab Electron rocket”
Kleos Space S.A. has advised that the Kleos’ Scouting Mission¹ launch is confirmed for August 2019 on a Rocket Lab Electron launch vehicle.
Kleos’ CEO 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 .”
“They have also worked well with GomSpace to improve the satellites capabilities further enhancing our offer to the market.”
Rocket Lab’s Senior Vice President of Global Launch Services, Lars Hoffman, says the team is proud to provide Kleos with responsive and tailored access to orbit.
“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.”
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.
All four satellites have successfully completed all the necessary checks with the 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 km Sun Synchronous Orbit as part of a rideshare mission with Rocket Lab who have advised that the 14-day launch window will be publicly notified approximately 20 days prior to the target launch date.
Kleos’ CEO 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 .”
“They have also worked well with GomSpace to improve the satellites capabilities further enhancing our offer to the market.”
“Assembled Kleos Scouting Mission Satellites”
Rocket Lab’s Senior Vice President of Global Launch Services, Lars Hoffman, says the team is proud to provide Kleos with responsive and tailored access to orbit.
“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.”
¹ The multi-satellite Scouting Mission system will form the foundation of a constellation that delivers a global picture
of hidden maritime activity, enhancing the intelligence capability of government and commercial entities when AIS
(Automatic Identification System) is defeated, imagery is unclear, or targets are out of patrol range. The first
scouting mission is made up of 4x nano-satellites built by GomSpace in Denmark, each the size of a shoebox.
About Kleos Space S.A.
Kleos Space S.A. (ASX: KSS) 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 first Kleos Space satellite system, known as Kleos Scouting Mission (KSM), will deliver commercially available data and perform as a technology demonstration. KSM will be the keystone for a later global high capacity constellation. The Scouting Mission will deliver targeted daily services with the full constellation delivering near-realtime global observation – www.kleos.space.
About Rocket Lab
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 the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the US Department of Defense Space Test Program and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
Headquartered in Huntington Beach, California, and led by founder and Chief Executive Peter Beck, Rocket Lab has grown to a global team of more than 450 highly-skilled engineers and technicians. Rocket Lab is a privately funded company. Investors include Khosla Ventures, DCVC (Data Collective), Bessemer Venture Partners, Future Fund, Greenspring Associates, ACC, K1W1, Promus Ventures and Lockheed Martin. Visit www.rocketlabusa.com.
