OpenSpace: The Virtual Ground Advantage

Advanced Satellite Ground Systems for Success

OpenSpace: The Virtual Ground Advantage

Advanced Satellite Ground Systems for Success

The Future is Now: Unlocking the Full Potential of Space with Virtual Ground

Space is becoming more dynamic than ever with multi-orbit satellites, software-defined payloads and 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN). Traditional, hardware-centric ground infrastructure simply cannot keep pace with this accelerating landscape.

The shift to virtual ground is not merely an incremental improvement—it's a fundamental change that will define the next era of space operations. By embracing virtual ground, satellite operators can achieve unprecedented levels of agility, efficiency, and resilience, driving innovation and maximizing the value of their space assets.

What is Virtual Ground and How is it Transforming Today’s Ground Systems?

Imagine a satellite ground system that is not tethered to a physical location, limited by fixed hardware, or constrained by manual processes. Virtual ground represents the digital transformation of traditional ground systems, moving away from rigid, hardware-centric architectures to flexible, software-defined, and cloud-enabled environments.

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Two people at virtual ground workstations analyzing results.

Key Drivers for Virtual Ground

Virtual ground systems offer the ability to keep pace with the rapid advancements in space and terrestrial technologies, such as the proliferation of mega-constellations (LEO, MEO, and GEO), emerging software-defined satellites, and evolving standards such as 5G NTN. With virtual ground, service providers can future-proof their ground system and evolve with customer demand, standards, and new technologies. Updates can occur in software much faster and without having to rip and replace hardware systems.
Multi-Orbit Constellations
Multi-Orbit Constellations

Virtual ground orchestrates and manages the increasing complexity of multi-orbit satellite constellations.

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5G NTN
5G NTN

Virtual ground is a key enabling step to deploying 5G networks and integrating with telco providers.

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Software-Defined Satellites
Software-Defined Satellites

To unleash the full power of software-defined satellites a software-based ground is critical.

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Solving Today’s Key Business Challenges with Virtual Ground

Virtual satellite ground systems address several key problems associated with traditional, hardware-centric ground systems and offer increased flexibility, speed, and resource utilization for satellite operators.

Increase Business Model Flexibility

Increase Business Model Flexibility

Grow ground investments based on customer demand over time.

Deliver Services Faster

Deliver Services Faster

Accelerate the time to revenue. Deploy services faster in minutes instead of days or weeks.

Maximize Resources to Lower Costs

Maximize Resources to Lower Costs

Leverage shared ground infrastructure across multiple missions to maximize resources and lower costs.

Kratos’ OpenSpace® Family: The Foundation of Virtual Ground

Kratos’ OpenSpace family of solutions enables the digital transformation of satellite ground systems to become a more dynamic and powerful part of the space network. The virtualized capabilities enable operators of satellites, Ground Systems-as-a-Service (GSaaS) providers, teleports and others in the satellite services supply chain to capitalize on a more flexible and scalable ground system. The OpenSpace family consists of three product lines:

  • OpenSpace SpectralNet for converting satellite RF signals to be used in digital environments
  • OpenSpace quantum products, which are virtual versions of traditional hardware components
  • OpenSpace Platform, the first commercially available, fully orchestrated, software-defined ground system

These three OpenSpace lines enable satellite operators and other service providers to implement digital operations at their own pace and in ways that meet their unique mission goals and business models.

Increasingly Dynamic Operations

Faster and More Scalable Service Delivery for Key Markets

The OpenSpace Platform supports Earth Observation/Remote Sensing (EO/RS), Satellite Communications (Satcom), and Military Communications (MILSATCOM) operations. OpenSpace is one of the only platforms that can be deployed to support a single or multiple missions or applications.
SATCOM
SATCOM

  • The OpenSpace Platform leverages telecom standards to enable service providers to deploy carrier-grade connectivity services.
  • Satellite operators such as Intelsat, a leading satellite operator, selected the OpenSpace Platform for satcom operations.

MILSATCOM
MILSATCOM

  • The OpenSpace Platform equips ground operators with advanced MILSATCOM solutions delivering mission-critical data with speed and reliability.
  • The Army, Space Force, and other agencies are leveraging the platform to support their missions.

EO/RS
Remote Sensing and Earth Observation

  • OpenSpace quantum products have been deployed in hundreds of sites around the world supporting tens of thousands of satellite passes per month.
  • GSaaS providers such as KSAT, Blue Canyon Technologies, and Atlas Space operations rely on the products.

How the OpenSpace Platform Works

The OpenSpace Platform’s extensible and open architecture leverages advanced technology to provide ground operations that are powerful and fast. The OpenSpace Platform is built on three core capabilities: digitization, fully virtualized data processing, and end-to-end network management and orchestration.

  • Network management intelligently and centrally controlled
  • Automatic adjustments to data and network resources
  • Integration with applications on the ground and space layer
  • Dynamic features matching capabilities of new payloads for LEO, MEO, and GEO

See How the OpenSpace Platform Makes the Ground Dynamic

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Discover Virtual Ground YouTube Channel

Resources: Discover Virtual Ground

View our “Discover Virtual Ground” channel to experience the changes that are occurring in today’s satellite ground systems. From virtualization, software-defined networking, 5G to the cloud and the edge…find out how these technologies are revolutionizing the ground segment.

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