Kepler Satellite Technology

Kepler Satellite Technology, officially Kepler Communications, is building a space-to-space data relay network to provide continuous, real-time connectivity for on-orbit assets. The company's mission is to establish the internet infrastructure for space, addressing the growing data and communication needs of the space economy.

The company was founded in 2015 by four graduate students from the University of Toronto: Mina Mitry, Wen Cheng Chong, Mark Michael, and Jeffrey Osborne. The startup was incubated at several institutions, including the University of Toronto's Entrepreneurship Hatchery and was part of the Techstars Seattle 2016 cohort. Kepler launched its first satellite, KIPP, in January 2018, moving from initial design to orbit within 12 months.

Kepler's primary offering is The Kepler Network, an optical data relay constellation designed to function as the transport layer for in-space communications, akin to fiber-optic internet for space. This network utilizes a hybrid architecture of optical and RF (Ku-band, S-band) technologies to create Internet exchange points in orbit. This system is designed to solve the significant time lag and downlink bottlenecks that occur when satellites can only transmit data when passing over a ground station. The network will enable data on-demand at speeds up to 2.5 Gbps for spacecraft equipped with compatible SDA-standard optical terminals. The company has proven flight heritage, with 23 satellites in orbit, and established optical inter-satellite links (OISL) between its pathfinder satellites in 2023.

Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with a presence in the US and UK, Kepler operates a vertically integrated model. The company has its own 5,000-square-foot satellite manufacturing facility in Toronto, allowing for in-house design, production, and testing, a key factor in scaling the production of its constellation. Kepler's business model involves providing this high-speed data relay service to various markets, including Earth Observation, Defense & Intelligence, Human Space Flight, and Space Sustainability. Clients include government agencies and commercial companies that require real-time access to their space-generated data for applications like debris removal, on-orbit servicing, and Earth imaging.

Keywords: optical inter-satellite links, satellite communications, space data relay, LEO constellation, in-space connectivity, Earth observation data, satellite network, space internet, optical terminals, data downlink bottleneck, space-to-space communication, real-time satellite data, defense intelligence space, human space flight communication, space sustainability