Kleos successfully launches Patrol Mission satellites
Kleos Space S.A, (ASX: KSS, Frankfurt: KS1) a space-powered Radio Frequency Reconnaissance data-as-a- service (DaaS) company, successfully launched its third satellite cluster, the Patrol Mission on 01 April 2022 onboard the Transporter-4 SpaceX mission.
The D-Orbit Orbital Transfer Vehicle carrying the four Patrol Mission satellites has been successfully deployed into a 500km Sun Synchronous orbit after being launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida. After the deployment of the Kleos satellites from the Orbital Transfer Vehicle, satellite builder, Innovative Solutions In Space (ISISPACE), will assist with Launch and Early Operation Phase (LEOP) support, including in-orbit system commissioning and final manoeuvring of the satellites into their operational formation.
The Patrol Mission satellites increase Kleos’ global data collection capacity by 119 million km2 per day and incorporate additional frequency spectrum collection capabilities, enabling the geolocation of X-Band radar transmissions in the 8500-9600 MHz range. X-Band maritime radar is commonly used for collision avoidance on board ships even when tracking systems such as Automatic Identification System (AIS) are turned off. The successful launch and deployment will grow Kleos’ low earth orbit constellation to 12 satellites and improve average daily revisits over key areas of interest for the customer base, e.g. over the area between 15-degrees latitude north and south of the equator to around five times a day.
Kleos CTO Vincent Furia said, “Each of our new clusters feature greater data collection and geolocation capability. In a little over a year, we have launched three satellite clusters with our fourth coming middle of this year. The pace at which we are building our constellation is a testament to the quality of our team and supplier partnerships.
“The additional X-Band geolocation capability will provide greater consistency and accuracy for customers, enabling them to locate ships that are emitting X-Band radar signals such as those that might be involved in illicit activities and evading Automatic Identification Systems (AIS).
“While our initial Scouting Mission satellites were focused on mid latitude collections including the South China Sea, the Vigilance and Patrol satellites increase our capabilities and provide global coverage. Additional clusters increase not only the volume of geolocation data available for our customers to purchase, but also its value in establishing baseline patterns of life and improving the detection of illegal activity such as drug and people smuggling, border security challenges and piracy.
“Kleos’ accessible and cost-effective GEOINT dataset complements and integrates with existing commercial data, providing our customers with a more complete view of what’s happening on the ground.”
About Kleos Space S.A.
Kleos is a space-enabled radio frequency Reconnaissance data-as-a-service company with operations in Luxembourg, the US and UK. Kleos locates radio transmissions in key areas of interest around the globe, efficiently uncovering data points to expose human activity on land and sea. Using clusters of four satellites, proprietary radio frequency data (RF Data) is collected, transmitted to the ground, processed, and delivered to customers worldwide. Customers, including analytics and intelligence entities, will license data on a subscription basis (Data-as-a-Service aka DaaS), for government and commercial use cases – aiding better and faster decision making. Kleos’ first satellite cluster, the Scouting Mission (KSM), successfully launched in November 2020 and is performing as a test and technology demonstration whilst collecting data. The company’s second satellite cluster, the Vigilance Mission, successfully launched in June 2021 and its Patrol Mission launched in April 2022. Kleos’ fourth cluster, the Observer Mission, is targeted for a mid-2022 launch. These satellite clusters form the foundation of a global high-capacity constellation of up to 20 satellite clusters, which will deliver high value global observation. For more information visit: www.kleos.space
