Kepler Communications Will Flight Test a Transmission Optimizing “Smart Radiator Device” on Its Next Satellite Mission

April 16, 2019

William Kucinski

Kepler Communications, Inc. ’s (Kepler’s) TARS six-unit cubesat – the company’s third satellite scheduled for launch later this year – will feature an innovative smart radiator device (SRD) designed to significantly optimize heat dissipation on communication satellites where environmental conditions have a big impact on transmission signals.

The novel SRD technology is currently being developed by Montreal-based MPB Communications, Inc. (MPB) as part of a technology development program. One of the goals of the program is to improve the SRD’s technology readiness level (TRL) by operating the unit in a space environment. Kepler intends to be the first to use this technology as part of their nanosatellite’s thermal control hardware suite before the end of 2019. The TARS satellite will support machine-to-machine and Internet of Things (IoT) applications.

William Kucinski is content editor at SAE International, Aerospace Products Group in Warrendale, Pa. Previously, he worked as a writer at the NASA Safety Center in Cleveland, Ohio and was responsible for writing the agency’s System Failure Case Studies. His interests include literally anything that has to do with space, past and present military aircraft, and propulsion technology.

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