Kepler Selected as Prime for European Space Agency's HydRON Element 3

The €18.6M award will enable Kepler to deliver a hosted-payload mission with multiple European optical communication terminals and payloads.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 12:50am

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A highly structured, abstract painting in earthy tones of green, blue, and brown, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise spirals that conceptually represent the interconnected optical communication terminals and data flows of the HydRON project.An abstract visualization of the complex optical communication network that will enable the European Space Agency's HydRON project to deliver high-capacity, secure data transport across multiple orbits.Colorado Springs Today

Kepler Communications Inc. has been selected as the prime contractor for HydRON Element 3, part of the European Space Agency's (ESA) High-throughput Optical Network (HydRON) project. The HydRON project aims to develop a high-throughput optical network enabling secure, real-time data transport across multiple orbits and between space and ground systems. For Element 3, Kepler will deliver a hosted-payload mission with multiple European optical communication terminals and payloads from service providers on a standard Kepler-built satellite.

Why it matters

HydRON is a key initiative in advancing sovereign optical communications and enabling high-capacity data transport for various space-based applications. Element 3 represents a critical step in broad interoperability testing and delivering real-time access to data for applications like space domain awareness services.

The details

Kepler is responsible for delivering a standard Kepler satellite with real-time optical intersatellite links, payload hosting, launch preparation, and in-orbit operations. The program includes contributions from European partners providing payloads and equipment representative of HydRON applications, including Vyoma GmbH, TESAT, Mbryonics Ltd, and Astrolight UAB.

  • Kepler was selected as the prime contractor for HydRON Element 3 on April 14, 2026.

The players

Kepler Communications Inc.

A satellite telecommunications provider on a mission to deliver real-time access to space data. Kepler operates the first commercial optical data relay constellation and has achieved industry-leading milestones in optical communication technologies.

European Space Agency (ESA)

Europe's gateway to space, coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its Member States to conduct space programmes and activities. ESA's Optical and Quantum Communications – ScyLight programme focuses on advancing optical and quantum technologies to revolutionise satellite communications.

Mina Mitry

CEO and Co-Founder of Kepler Communications.

Laurent Jaffart

Director of Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity at the European Space Agency.

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What they’re saying

“HydRON is a key initiative in advancing sovereign optical communications and enabling high-capacity data transport.”

— Mina Mitry, CEO and Co-Founder of Kepler

“HydRON will serve as the world's first multi-orbital optical communications network with a terabit per second capacity, offering resilient and efficient data transfer to address the challenges of bringing connectivity to multiple users securely, quickly and reliably.”

— Laurent Jaffart, Director of Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity at the European Space Agency

What’s next

The HydRON Element 3 mission will provide on-orbit heritage and operational experience across multiple payload providers, supporting the integration of optical communications technologies into future HydRON capabilities and associated commercial services.

The takeaway

Kepler's selection as the prime contractor for HydRON Element 3 highlights the company's expertise in optical communication technologies and its role in advancing Europe's efforts to develop a high-throughput optical network for secure, real-time data transport in space.