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New Norwegian smallsat in space

New Norwegian smallsat in space

NorSat-4. Illustration: The Norwegian Defence Research Establishment

Congratulations to Norwegian Space Agency on the successful NorSat-4 launch.

The NorSat-4 satellite has now started its journey in a low orbit around the globe.

“Space Norway is proud to have assisted the Norwegian Space Agency in developing the NorSat-4 satellite, and we are ready to operate it,” says Ivar Spydevold, CEO of Space Norway’s subsidiary Statsat.

The operation centre at Statsat has already made contact with the satellite.

“All telemetry readings are nominal so far. We are looking forward to operating the NorSat-4 satellite on behalf of the Norwegian Space Agency, states Spydevold.

Space Norway’s role in the Norsat-4 project

Space Norway has supported the Norwegian Space Agency with project management capacity throughout the project.

“We have also supported in setting up data chains between the different organizations,” informs Spydevold.

He adds:

“And we were involved as well in preparing the mission control system to handle the satellite and operate it as part of the constellation of AIS satellites owned by the Norwegian Space Agency and the Norwegian Coastal Administration.”

This satellite is the 7th satellite to be operated by Space Norway’s Statsat on behalf of the Norwegian Space Agency.

 

Three payloads on board

The NorSat-4 carries three payloads, two of which are experimental.

The non-experimental payload is an AIS payload supplying the Norwegian Coastal Administration with additional AIS coverage.

“We hope the AIS payload can start operations as soon as today, Wednesday,” says Spydevold.

The other two payloads are a crypto unit from the Norwegian company EIDEL, and a low light imager (LLI) from the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment. The crypto unit will provide high-level encryption of the mission operation and of the downloaded data.

The LLI is designed to take pictures at very low light, typically periods before sunrise and after sunset. The camera baffle for the LLI is easily identifiable in the picture of the satellite. The baffle ensures that strong light from the sun does not reach the camera, as that would damage or even destroy the imager.

“The satellite manufacturer, UTIAS/SFL, will perform the commissioning, which will take a couple of weeks all in all, then we’ll take over the operation,” says Spydevold.

Facts about NorSat-4

  • Main task: Monitoring ship traffic in Norwegian oceans.
  • Mass: 34 kilograms.
  • Measures: 30 x 31 x 45 cm.
  • Pay load: AIS-receiver (Automatic Identification System), low light camera, and Nanosat encryption device.
  • Owned by the Norwegian Coastal Agency, financed with support from the Ministry of Defence in Norway.
  • Space Norway’s Statsat is operating the satellite.
  • The low light camera is operated by and analysed by Norwegian Defence Research Establishment.
  • Satellite manufacturer is UTIAS / Space Flight Laboratory.
  • Instruments manufactured by Kongsberg Discovery Seatex, Eidel (Eidsvoll Electronics), and Safran Reosc.

 

Employees at Space Norway Statsat watching the launch online.
Employees at Space Norway watching the Norsat-4 launch online. Photo: Statsat, Space Norway