Satellite telecommunications provider, Kepler Communications (Kepler), has launched on-orbit computing services enabled by its optical data relay constellation, The Kepler Network.
This cutting-edge innovation will allow customers to lease or purchase advanced computing hardware on Kepler’s optical data relay satellites, supporting data storage, cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and multi-sensor data fusion.
Mina Mitry, CEO and Co-Founder of Kepler Communications, highlighted, “Data requirements in space are growing exponentially and we are excited to offer our customers multiple solutions to send, store, and enhance their on-orbit data. Launching an on-orbit compute capacity enables our customers to extend terrestrial computing concepts into space, expanding the possibilities of their mission.”
Axiom Space, a leader in commercial space station development, has purchased two initial on-orbit computing payloads for its orbital data center (ODC) business. Using Kepler’s optical data relay network, Axiom Space’s two ODC nodes are poised to lay the groundwork for space-based cloud computing.
Kepler and Axiom Space’s collaboration aims to accelerate real-time decision-making, enhance mission autonomy, and create advanced imaging and AI/machine learning (ML) insights. Additionally, the partnership will enable on-orbit processing applications for space missions.
Additional payloads on Kepler’s constellation can be purchased to increase the capacity of the ODC business. Moreover, both Kepler Communications and Axiom Space will partner to expand the network and ODC services for key areas, including national security, civil, commercial, and international customers.
Jason Aspiotis, Global Director of In-space Data and Security at Axiom Space, noted, “Kepler is at the forefront of building a commercial optical data relay network. Deploying our initial ODC nodes on The Kepler Network will give Axiom Space’s ODC customers the ability to move their data to and from our nodes, providing an initial ODC offering for space-to-space and space-to-ground cloud computing and storage use cases.”
The first tranche of Kepler’s optical data relay satellites is scheduled for launch in Q4 2025, alongside nine satellites and a sun-synchronous orbit spare. The second tranche is planned to launch two years later, expanding constellation coverage and supporting initiatives such as the European Space Agency’s High Throughput Optical Network (HydRON) program.
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