MR 1, 2

MR 1 and 2 [Open Cosmos]

MR-1 and MR-2 are low Earth orbit telecommunications satellites built by Open Cosmos of the United Kingdom. They are the first spacecraft in the company’s proprietary Ka-band LEO communications constellation.

The mission of MR-1 and MR-2 is to provide Ka-band telecommunications services, expanding Open Cosmos’ in-orbit capabilities beyond its existing satellites that deliver high-resolution Earth imagery and global monitoring data. The new constellation is intended to complement these observation missions by adding dedicated high-capacity communications links.

Both satellites were designed and manufactured by Open Cosmos using the company’s modular smallsat platform. Final assembly and integration took place at Open Cosmos’s headquarters in Harwell, Oxfordshire, with engineering and development teams across Spain, Portugal, and Greece contributing to the programme. The spacecraft carry Ka-band payloads optimized for LEO operations, supported by high-priority Ka-band spectrum recently awarded by the Principality of Liechtenstein. This allocation enables Open Cosmos to build and operate its new sovereign LEO broadband satellite constellation.

MR-1 and MR-2 operate in a circular low Earth orbit at an altitude of approximately 1050 km. This orbit supports global coverage and sustained Ka-band telecommunications performance.

The two satellites were launched together in January 2026 aboard a Rocket Lab Electron KS launch vehicle and were successfully deployed into their target orbit following launch.