Ice AIS Baby: Successful 3rd launch for the Kinéis constellation

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Ice AIS Baby: Successful 3rd launch for the Kinéis constellation

Press release • November 25, 2024

15 satellites now in orbit for Kinéis IoT and AIS missions

On Monday, November 25, 2024, at 4:55 AM (Paris time), Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket successfully launched 5 new satellites into orbit for the Kinéis constellation, dedicated to global Internet of Things (IoT) and Automatic Identification System (AIS) markets. This brings the total number of nanosatellites deployed to 15 out of the 25 planned. This third launch, named «Ice AIS Baby,» was conducted from New Zealand and marked Electron’s 56th mission.

On the success of this third launch, Alexandre Tisserant, President of Kinéis, stated:

Once again, the Kinéis teams demonstrate their technical capabilities as a satellite operator with the successful deployment of these 5 new satellites in a fast-paced launch schedule. This achievement would not have been possible without the precision of Rocket Lab’s Electron, which placed our satellites on their planned orbits. With 15 satellites now in orbit, we are closer to the complete deployment of our IoT constellation to transmit realtime data from any point on the globe. Congratulations to all of our teams for their incredible work, and let’s not forget, this is a European first!

We are also excited about our second mission, AIS. In a rapidly consolidating market, Kinéis is establishing itself as a sovereign European player combining technological expertise and strategic independence. With our new AIS offering, maritime stakeholders benefit from enhanced fleet visibility and improved data reliability.

Satellite AIS: Kinéis’ second innovative mission for global maritime surveillance

The AIS (Automatic Identification System) is a maritime system for the automatic identification of ships using VHF (very high frequency) radio signals. It allows ships equipped with transponders and surveillance systems to know the identity, position, direction, and status of vessels at sea.

Kinéis’ Satellite AIS (S-AIS) is a demonstration of high-performance innovation, showcasing disruptive technology specifically developed for the second mission of the 25 satellites in the IoT constellation.

Indeed, the Kinéis AIS antenna ensures superior reception quality, as the ship’s signal is received by each of the antenna’s 6 independent metal strands. This system increases the reception rate for ships in high-density traffic areas, compared with traditional single-strand satellites.

Kinéis’ Satellite AIS is a complementary solution to terrestrial AIS, which is limited to a
maximum coverage of 100 km around terrestrial antennas. The Kinéis S-AIS solution surpasses this limit by using its satellites to collect and transmit AIS data, even in the most isolated or congested areas (Gulf of Mexico, Suez Canal, English Channel).

With its constellation of low Earth orbit (LEO) nanosatellites, Kinéis aims to process millions of AIS messages daily, providing a detailed and reliable view of global maritime traffic.

Diverse and strategic uses:

Maritime traffic management: Reliable data to enhance safety and fluidity in high- traffic or remote areas.
Detection of suspicious behavior: A crucial aid in fighting illegal fishing, piracy, and trafficking.
Logistics optimization: Reducing costs and risks through improved supply chain management.
Defense and security reinforcement: Precise monitoring for rapid intervention (customs operations, defense).
Environmental protection: Monitoring protected areas, detecting pollution, and optimizing routes to reduce environmental impact.
Data analysis: A decision-making tool for risk management.