Sophia Space Inc. signed a commercial agreement with Kepler Communications to push forward in-orbit computing and connectivity. The deal will combine Sophia Space’s Orbital Data Center software with Kepler’s satellite network to build distributed compute infrastructure in space.
The aim is clear enough: process data in orbit with more speed, more redundancy, less reliance on the ground.
Under the agreement, Sophia Space will deploy its software across Kepler’s satellite constellation. The system will use Kepler’s optical data relay network to link distributed edge compute nodes powered by NVIDIA.
Together, the companies want to build a new class of modular, low-latency computing systems built to run reliably in orbit.
Initial demonstration missions are scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026. Those missions will test how Sophia Space’s software works with Kepler’s hardware in the space environment.
A main target is to prove the system handles high-volume workloads across multiple spacecraft without breaking down under orbital conditions.
Sophia Space built its Orbital Data Center software for the conditions space throws at hardware. The platform supports fault-tolerant and radiation-aware computing so operations continue through hazards such as single-event upsets. Workloads shift between nodes as needed, which helps preserve uptime even when parts of the system fail.
This partnership moves away from single-purpose payloads and toward shared infrastructure. Early use cases will focus on AI-driven weather forecasting and space domain awareness analytics running on NVIDIA Jetson Orin modules.
That setup keeps complex processing closer to the source, which cuts delay and improves response speed.
Company executives framed the deal as a step toward a more open space computing model. Sophia Space chief executive Rob DeMillo said the agreement speeds up the company’s vision.
Kepler Communications chief executive Mina Mitry said open collaboration matters if the sector wants a resilient space-based network. Together, the companies want to show modular compute and advanced connectivity work side by side and push industry standards higher.
The distributed model offers a practical gain. It reduces the need to send huge raw datasets back to Earth for analysis.
Data gets processed at the edge in orbit, using Kepler’s optical inter-satellite network for near real-time inference and more autonomous handling of workloads.
Beyond the first demonstrations, the agreement sets up a structure for wider multi-partner collaboration. The companies want to support a more connected space data ecosystem built on the Kepler network. They are also exploring joint development of Optical Data Center Nodes for future satellites.
Those nodes would support scalable, fault-tolerant compute clusters and expand in-orbit processing capacity. The longer-term goal is a commercially viable orbital data infrastructure with stronger compute capability and tighter connectivity between assets in space.
Sophia Space has also raised $10 mn in seed funding to advance its platform. Alpha Funds, KDDI Green Partners Fund, and Unlock Venture Partners led the round.
The funding targets one stubborn issue in orbital computing: cooling high-performance processors in space.
The thermal problem is brutal. Space has no air for conventional cooling, so companies often rely on large radiators to dissipate heat. Those systems add weight and complexity.
Sophia Space is developing a different approach for orbital supercomputing, aimed at making high-performance processing in orbit more practical.
Its main product is the modular TILE platform, a one-by-one metre unit combining solar panels with server components.
The design places processors against a passive heat spreader, removing the need for active cooling systems. Sophia Space built the architecture for the thermal, power, and radiation conditions of space.
