Kepler has launched 33 satellites to date and operates the first commercial optical data relay constellation, enabling real-time space communications, on-orbit compute, and hosted payloads.

The network is designed to deliver real-time connectivity, advanced computing, and hosted payload capabilities, effectively creating an in-orbit cloud for commercial and sovereign space missions.

Kepler’s leadership, including CEO Mina Mitry and advisor Chris Hadfield, were expected to attend the launch alongside former Rogers CEO Joe Natale and other notable figures.

The anticipated launch window begins early Sunday morning, with a backup window available the next day if weather or other factors cause a delay.

The company cautions that forward-looking statements carry risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ due to market dynamics, regulatory changes, or technical challenges.

Media contact for Kepler is Crystalyn Koch, Strategic Communications Manager.

A live webcast of the Twilight Mission will be available roughly 15 minutes before liftoff on SpaceX’s site and X account.

The mission builds on validated optical performance across space-to-space, space-to-ground, and space-to-air laser links, with future tranches planned to expand capacity and introduce 100-gigabit optical technology.

In April 2025, Kepler secured its first on-orbit computing customer, Axiom Space, with Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield joining as an advisor later that year to support human spaceflight initiatives.

If successful, Kepler would be a frontrunner in an optical-relay LEO network, ahead of similar efforts by other major players.

The first tranche of optical relay satellites was launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 from Vandenberg, marking a potential world-first for an optical relay network in low-Earth orbit.

The 10-satellite tranche will carry SDA-compatible optical terminals and on-orbit compute modules with terabytes of storage, enabling low-latency data transfer, secure routing, and edge processing in space.