NorthStar and Kepler Sign Agreements to Expand Space-Based Optical Sensor Network and Accelerate Delivery
of Space Domain Awareness Service

August 27th, 2026 – Montreal, Canada, NorthStar Earth & Space Inc., (“NorthStar”) and Kepler Communications (“Kepler”) today announced a collaboration that combines NorthStar’s leading space-based Space Domain Awareness (SDA) services and Kepler’s advanced optical data relay infrastructure to accelerate the deployment of orbital sensing capabilities and streamline delivery of critical space intelligence to customers worldwide.

The collaboration comprises a payload hosting agreement wherein NorthStar’s optical SDA sensors will be hosted on Kepler’s satellite infrastructure that is delivering secure, low-latency, direct data transport from orbit to end users.

This agreement establishes the foundation for a long-term relationship that supports NorthStar’s strategy to rapidly expand its sensor presence in orbit while delivering timely, actionable space intelligence to government and commercial customers. The partnership is designed to combine NorthStar’s sensing and analytics expertise with Kepler’s real-time data infrastructure, creating a scalable framework for future deployments to meet the demand for real time SDA.

The partnership also reflects a shared vision for scaling space infrastructure. Through a longer-term framework established between the companies, NorthStar and Kepler intend to collaborate on the deployment of increasing numbers of SDA sensors to support persistent monitoring across all orbital regimes and meet growing global demand for space domain awareness services.

“NorthStar is very proud to enter this partnership with Kepler,” said Stewart Bain, CEO and Founder of NorthStar.  “With a shared interest in serving the greater mission to ensure the security of space, these agreements represent an important step in expanding our sensor network and accelerating the delivery of space-based SDA services to customers. By combining our sensing capabilities with Kepler’s communications infrastructure, we can deploy faster, scale more efficiently, and deliver information when it matters most.”

“Kepler’s constellation was built to enable real-time space applications and move mission-critical data from orbit to the people and programs who need it most,” said Mina Mitry, chief executive officer and co-founder of Kepler. “Partnering with NorthStar demonstrates how integrated space infrastructure can accelerate the deployment of advanced sensing missions while delivering timely, reliable access to the data they generate.”

The collaboration supports NorthStar’s broader effort to establish a robust, space-based sensing network capable of detecting, tracking, and characterising activity in Earth’s orbital environment. By embedding sensors as hosted payloads on Kepler’s satellites and integrating them with Kepler’s space data relay infrastructure the companies are creating a scalable model for future SDA constellation growth and enhanced customer service delivery.

About NorthStar Earth & Space

NorthStar Earth & Space is a space intelligence and data analytics company.  NorthStar has launch dedicated spacecraft that continuously scan, detect, and track the behaviour of satellites from space. NorthStar offers commercial and defence customers Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and 24/7 Space Domain Awareness (SDA) services.  

NorthStar’s patented Space Information & Intelligence (Si²) Platform combines a resilient system architecture, enabling real time SDA, by leveraging intersatellite links, AI, and edge computing.  By fusing diverse observation sources with its dedicated sensors, the real-time system detects threats as they occur and evolve in-orbit.  This highly differentiated service provides early detection, tracking, and custody of emerging space threats to enable decision makers to measure and assess alternative responses.

With global headquarters in Montreal, Canada, a European HQ in Luxembourg, and a dedicated U.S. operation in Virginia, NorthStar supports mission critical operations with key defence and civil clients including the Royal Canadian Armed Forces’ (RCAF) – 3 Canadian Space Division (3 CSD), the US Space Force Joint Commercial Operations, DARPA, the Luxembourg Space Agency, and the European Space Agency and others.

About Kepler

Kepler Communications Inc. is a satellite telecommunications provider on a mission to deliver real-time access to space data. With 33 satellites launched to date, Kepler operates the first commercial optical data relay constellation, enabling real-time, continuous space communications while supporting advanced on-orbit compute and hosted payload capabilities. Kepler has achieved industry-leading milestones, including the first commercial on-orbit demonstration of SDA-compatible optical inter-satellite links and successful space-to-air and space-to-ground optical communication demonstrations. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Kepler is building a global company to enable communications for the future space economy.