Kleos Space Business Progress Update

Kleos Space Business Progress Update
  • New Agreement with the Chilean Air Force
  • First Cluster – Recently launched Kleos Scouting Mission Schedule Progress
  • Payload commissioning to commence shortly followed by Data transfer validation and Revenue
  • Second Cluster – Polar Vigilance Mission Schedule Progress
  • Critical Design Review in progress

Kleos Space S.A. (ASX: KSS, Frankfurt: KS1,) (Kleos or Company), a space-powered Radio Frequency Reconnaissance data-as-a-service (DaaS) company, is pleased to provide the following update:

Chilean Air Force Agreement

Kleos is pleased to announce that it has entered into a collaboration agreement with the Fuerza Aérea de Chile (Chilean Air Force) on the analysis of geospatial information data from the Company.

The Chilean Air Force will test and evaluate the Kleos geospatial RF data collected by Kleos’ first cluster of satellites (KSM1) for a 3-month period, after which continuation will be subject to normal licencing costs.

The evaluation period will facilitate research on Kleos radio frequency spatial geolocation data and methods of collaboration to develop an added value proposition for current and future opportunities.

The data will be delivered by Kleos to the Space Operations Group of the Chilean Air Force (GOE), which will be in charge of processing the information gathered in order that the data is applied to decision-making in different geospatial areas.

Pierre Duquesne, Kleos Business Development Manager for South, Central and Latin America said, “We are honoured to be working with the Chilean Air Force to assist in the fight against unlawful maritime activity such as smuggling and illegal fishing in Chilean waters with Kleos data.”

The orbits of Kleos’ first two clusters will provide strategic coverage of the whole region over and around Chile, as part of their global coverage.

Kleos’ satellites will detect and geolocate maritime radio frequency transmissions to provide global activity-based intelligence, enhancing the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities of governments and commercial entities when Automatic Identification System (AIS) is defeated, imagery unclear or targets out of patrol range. 

Kleos Scouting Mission (KSM1) Schedule Progress – Launched 7 Nov 2020

The Kleos Scouting Mission satellites continue to successfully progress through their commissioning phase towards data and revenue delivery.

Milestone TimeDuration of MilestoneMilestone DescriptionAchieved
T015 minLaunch event
T0 + 15 min1 minRelease of satellites from the launcher
T0 + 50 min5 minLEOP – Deployment of antenna
T0 + ≈1 hour2 daysLEOP – System wake-up
T0 + ≈1 day1-2 weeksLEOP – Platform commissioningIn Progress
T0 + ≈1-2 weeks2-3 weeksLEOP – Long-time test and formation roll-outIn Progress
T0 + ≈3-5 weeks4-6 weeksLEOP – Payload commissioning and formation roll-out. Data transfer validationTo be commenced
T0 + ≈7-11 weeksTBD weeksLEOP – Payload operations test, customer tests, trials, demonstration and early revenuesTo be commenced

Polar Vigilance Mission Schedule Progress – Launch target Mid-2021

The Polar Vigilance Mission (KSF1) cluster of satellites has entered the Critical Design and Procurement phase after successfully undergoing Preliminary Design Review. The satellites are being built by small satellite specialist Innovative Solutions In Space B.V.

The Preliminary Design Review milestone ensures the KSF1 cluster of four satellites can now proceed toward a final design. The preliminary design presented demonstrates that all system requirements can be met with acceptable risk and within cost.

The KSF1 satellites will be launched under contract with Spaceflight Inc who have manifested the cluster of Kleos satellites on the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch scheduled for mid-2021 launching into a 500 km Sun Synchronous Orbit.

Milestone DescriptionAchieved
Contract Placed & Kick Off
Preliminary Design Review
Critical Design ReviewIn-Progress
Integration Readiness ReviewTo be commenced
Test Readiness ReviewTo be commenced
Launch ReadinessTo be commenced
In-Orbit Commissioning CompleteTo be commenced

This announcement has been authorised by Andy Bowyer, CEO of Kleos Space S.A.

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