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NorthStar to deploy 11 optical sensors on Kepler relay satellites after tracking-spacecraft failure

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NorthStar Earth & Space plans to place 11 optical space-domain-awareness sensors on Kepler Communications data-relay satellites in 2028, shifting its orbital-tracking architecture after the failure of its first four spacecraft. The deployment would expand NorthStar’s planned ability to monitor objects in orbit without relying solely on dedicated tracking satellites.

Discovered 2026-08-27T07:22:10.635217-07:00 | 2026-08-27T07:22:10.635217-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

  • NorthStar is changing its space-domain-awareness deployment model after the failure of its first four orbital-tracking spacecraft, with 11 sensors now planned for integration on Kepler relay satellites in 2028.
  • Hosting tracking payloads on communications satellites could link orbital monitoring capabilities to an existing data-relay architecture, while making Kepler’s satellite fleet part of NorthStar’s planned sensing network.

Reported By

SpaceNews.com
Sources Tracked
1
First Seen
2026-08-27T07:22:10.635217-07:00
Latest Update
2026-08-27T07:22:10.635217-07:00
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Space

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