NorthStar and Kepler Partner on Canadian SDA

Montreal-based NorthStar Earth & Space will install Space Domain Awareness sensors on spacecraft built by Toronto's Kepler Communications. The companies announced the partnership on Wednesday, with a goal to expand their collaboration to meet demand for real-time SDA services.

This Canadian initiative emerges as SpaceX offers its Space Situational Awareness catalog for free to small satellite operators. It also coincides with LeoLabs preparing to demonstrate its SDA capabilities for U.S. national-security missions under a $20.68 million Space Force Prototype Other Transaction Authority agreement.

NorthStar's Growth and Canadian Contract

NorthStar is anticipated to go public via a SPAC merger next quarter. The company's growth is fueled by cross-border SDA sales using its own optical satellite sensors, supplemented by radio frequency and ground-radar data from third parties.

In Canada, the firm secured a significant SDA contract in July. The deal, valued at over $40 million Canadian (approximately $29 million U.S.), was signed with the Royal Canadian Air Force's 3 Canadian Space Division. According to a press release cited by the source, this division serves as Canada's equivalent to the U.S. Space Force. The release emphasized that the country "must remain steadfast in maintaining the ability to independently monitor and protect its assets in orbit."

Kepler's U.S. Government Work

Kepler Communications has been active with U.S. defense and space agencies. The company recently finished a proof-of-concept demonstration of a laser communications link for the U.S. Space Development Agency.

For its first dedicated launch mission, Kepler has chosen U.S. launch provider Rocket Lab. That mission is scheduled for no earlier than 2028. Kepler has also activated a commercial data-relay service for its global customer base.

Cross-Border Collaboration in Space

Space remains an area for partnership despite broader trade tensions between the United States and Canada. Canada is increasing investment in its domestic launch vehicles and spaceports, partly for military reasons.

NorthStar maintains a U.S. division, which participates in DARPA's Space-WATCH program. The collaboration between NorthStar and Kepler represents a focused effort to build a sovereign Canadian capability for monitoring objects in space.