Kleos Space, the Luxembourg-based New Space company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX), has been busy since its successful IPO on 24 August 2018 that raised approximately U.S.$8 million.
On 31 August 2018 Kleos Space announced that it has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus Defence and Space. The two companies intend to use the MoU as a vehicle to expand the international market of radio frequency monitoring, transmitter geolocation, and to investigate opportunities for collaboration.
Kleos Space has contracted with GomSpace of Denmark to build a constellation consisting of 20 nanosatellite systems in low-Earth orbit, with the aim of starting operations to monitor the Earth. These nanosatellites will capture data currently hidden from detection as well as data on passive radio transmissions without Automatic Identification System (AIS), Global Positioning System (GPS), or Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) protocols that will be used for security and defence purposes.
In other news, Kleos Space also revealed that a preliminary design review was held between the Kleos mission team and GomSpace engineering team to review the technical progress on the nanosatellite build contract. Progress was deemed to be on track with the next contractual milestone to be held in October 2018.
Further, Kleos Space and Australian defence contracting company Scientific Management Associates announced that they intend to work together for mutual benefit arising from business opportunities from Australian defence and government space-based intelligence and monitoring programmes.
