The launch of two Kepler Communications satellites this month has been delayed. They were to have launched on the upcoming SpaceX Transporter-2 rideshare mission later this month.
Kepler has a contract with SpaceX to launch their satellites on several rideshare missions. SpaceX’s job is to deliver Kepler and other satellites to orbit. However because of the nature and number of satellites being launched, many companies, including Kepler, use tug services to place their satellites in their desired orbit after the tug is released from the Falcon 9 second stage. In this case they contracted with Momentus for their Vigoride (VR-2) tug service.
Unfortunately for Kepler, Momentus has run into problems which precludes the company from participating in the SpaceX Transporter-2 mission. Momentus is in the process of going public via a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) merger with Stable Road Capital. That process has run into some regulatory problems and as a result the FAA has denied the company’s launch license request until the regulatory problems are sorted out.
In an email to SpaceQ, a Kepler representative stated that “unfortunately we aren’t participating anymore in the Transporter-2 launch. We have a few backup plans we are investigating and will have news in the coming weeks as to our next launch.”