Kleos Space S.A. (ASX:KSS, Frankfurt:KS1, Kleos or Company) has signed a new contract with rideshare provider Spaceflight Inc. to launch the company’s third satellite cluster, (KSF2), in December of 2021 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to further grow the firm’s constellation.
The four KSF2 Polar Patrol Mission satellites will launch into a 500- to 600 km SSO, further complementing Kleos’ first and second satellite clusters and increasing cover over key maritime areas of interest (e.g., double the coverage over both the North and South Poles).
Kleos’ second satellite cluster — the Polar Vigilance Mission — has recently completed a key development milestone and remains on track for a mid-2021 launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9. Commissioning and data collection from Kleos’ initial Scouting Mission satellites, which launched from India into a 37-degree inclination in November of 2020, is nearing completion.
Kleos Space CEO Andy Bowyer said, “The launch of our third satellite cluster will further improve the frequency and value of Kleos’ radio frequency intelligence data, generating higher-value data sets and further tiered subscription licence options. While Kleos is targeting a constellation of as many as 20 satellite clusters, each cluster will increase the volume of data that can be sold and provide further insights as to activity in key areas of interest for our customers.”
Andy added, “While we progress our constellation roll out with the launch of our second and third satellite clusters, we continue to focus on securing and building a new subscriber base. Data delivery from the Scouting Mission satellites allows us to commence revenue generation from early adopter and test contracts. Final costs incurred are anticipated to be comparable with publicly available space rideshare costs and within the envelope of the cost of a launch advised within the prospectus.”