The Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV-2) delivered by Northrop Grumman has been providing a successful service to the jointly run THOR 10-02/ Intelsat 10-02 satellite.

The contract was expected to run for up to five years but, due to the consistent and high-quality service provided by MEV-2, Space Norway and Intelsat have agreed to extend the service by several more years.

THOR 10-02 / Intelsat 10-02 itself was launched in 2004 and is still in excellent health with 100% redundancy still available in the Space Norway payload. It carries thousands of valuable communication links, making crucial connectivity possible in remote locations on land and at sea.

The docking procedure in 2021 was the first ever undertaken on an active satellite and was achieved in a completely seamless fashion with no downtime occurring, ensuring continuity of service for Space Norway’s customers. By extending this service we are able to ensure transmissions will continue smoothly over the coming years.

Morten Tengs, CEO of Space Norway, said: “The MEV-2 mission has proved a great success, benefitting our customers across Europe and the Middle East. By continuing to employ this history-making technology we can extend the longevity of this high-quality satellite and ensure hassle-free continued operation for our customers.”

The test is divided into two parts. Both the satellite provider Northrop Grumman and HEOSAT test communication between their respective control rooms and the satellites, to ensure that both parts function both during launch and when the satellites are deployed after testing in space.

During the construction of the satellites and payloads, all physical parts and software have been tested in various ways, many times. First individually, and then as a complete system. The tests in the Satellite Operation Center (SOC) have been performed in a satellite simulator, which is a digital copy of the ASBM satellites. During this important compatibility test, the SOC is directly connected to the satellites to receive telemetry and send commands for the first time. The operations center is tested together with the actual satellite, with actual radio signals.

Our two ASBM satellites are in the final stages of the many tests required before launch. One of the final tests is the Near Field Range test (NFR) where the beam patterns from the antennas are measured. While this test is ongoing, the compatibility test is also conducted. The reason the compatibility test is done while the satellite is in NFR is that when the satellites are finally in operation, all communication is done via radio signals.

Ranging is tested, meaning that by using radio signals sent from the ground segment, the satellite’s location is known at all times. The test ensures that the satellite is able to deliver telemetry to the SOC, and finally, it is ensured that commands can be sent to the satellites and that they can receive communication and execute what they are asked to do.

As with the end-to-end test, all hands were on deck for this important event. Teams from both Space Norway, the satellite provider Northrop Grumman, KSAT, and our customers; the Norwegian and US Armed Forces as well as Viasat, were active in their parts of the ground network to verify data reception and report deviations for two consecutive days.

Coordinating all these actors is in itself a major task, and in the compatibility test, the entire operation is tested on cooperation, data flow, and deliveries. The compatibility test against the ASBM2 satellite was conducted early in March while it was in Near Field Range, and with this, an essential milestone for the entire ASBM program has been reached.

Both the ground segment and the satellite team can start looking forward to the launch!

While we understand that it is very rare to achieve perfection, that doesn’t stop the Space Norway team from trying! Every year we conduct an annual customer survey to find out both how well we are doing and where we could do better. This feedback helps us gain an understanding of how we are viewed by our clients and is invaluable as we strive to improve our services. So we really appreciate the time and effort our clients put into completing the survey.

We are very pleased to report that our survey not only showed a rise in the number of responders, but also an increase in satisfaction levels. This is particularly gratifying considering the worldwide increase in LEOs – it appears that our customers nevertheless appreciate the service and expertise that we are able to supply from our Geostationary satellite fleet.

We work hard to keep our customers happy and we are delighted that we appear to be succeeding. The survey results show that overall 98% of our clients are satisfied with Space Norway’s performance and solutions, with 95% agreeing that they would recommend our services to others.

There are different ratings criterion applied to our Data Services and Occasional Use divisions, but we achieved great results with a year-on-year improvement for both. 94% or more of respondents gave a positive rating for Data Services, and 80% of Occasional Use clients rated the division a fantastic 10/10. What is more, a further 15% rated them as 9/10.

All-in-all, the results for 2024 survey demonstrate that we are continuing to serve our customers well with both products and services that are highly rated and, consequently, the majority are very likely to recommend the company to others.

We also asked our clients for suggestions for improvement and these ideas have all been discussed by the team. We are currently looking into those that we can implement now and identifying others for the future.

Some of our customers’ comments are shown below along with comparisons of our performance over the past three years.

(Our Broadcasting division did not participate in the 2024 Customer Satisfaction Survey.)

ITU WRC-23 addressed necessary revisions of the Radio Regulations (RR). This is an international treaty between the 193 United Nations member states that make up the ITU. It focuses on the use of the radio spectrum and coordination rules to provide access to it.

Specifically, the conference, which convenes approximately every four years, was this time gathering more than 3.000 delegates in Dubai. The objective was to discuss and seek consensus on more than 40 different topics.

ITU WRC – Impact the future of global communication systems

The decisions made at the ITU WRC are crucial. They impact the future of global communication systems, technology innovation, and the spectrum availability for various services. Consequently, satellite operators, telecommunications companies, regulatory bodies, and governments worldwide participated. They aimed to ensure their interests were represented and to contribute to the shaping of the future of radiocommunications.

Furthermore, there were three important overall reasons for participating in the ITU World Radio Conference:

Spectrum Allocation: The ITU World Radio Conference plays a critical role. It determines international spectrum allocations for various services, including satellite communications. Specifically, Space Norway participates to advocate for and secure crucial spectrum allocations for their satellite operations. This participation ensures access to specific frequency bands necessary for their satellite services. It enables efficient and interference-free communication.

Policy Influence and Networking: Attending the conference provides Space Norway with the opportunity to engage with global stakeholders. These include regulators, industry experts, and other satellite operators. By participating in discussions, presenting technical findings, and contributing to policy debates can help shape international regulations and policies concerning satellite communications. Moreover, building relationships and networks within the industry can also lead to potential collaborations and partnerships.

Keeping Abreast of Technological Developments: The ITU World Radio Conference serves as a platform to stay updated on the latest technological advancements, trends, and innovations in the field of satellite communications. Consequently, Space Norway can gain insights into emerging technologies, best practices, and future opportunities. This knowledge can be instrumental in guiding their strategic planning and investment decisions. Additionally, it helps in developing new satellite systems that align with evolving global standards and technologies.

Discussions relating to the operation of non-geostationary satellites

By actively participating in the ITU World Radio Conference, Space Norway can ensure that it advocates for its interests. Additionally, it helps to secure favorable regulations to support its operations. Furthermore, it enables Space Norway to remain at the forefront of technological advancements in the satellite industry.

Specifically, the most important discussions for Space Norway focused on the operation of non-geostationary satellites and related services. These discussions pertained to ITU Resolution 35. It directly relates to conditions and requirements to which Space Norway’s Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission project must adhere.

However, Space Norway also had interests in other topics. For example, these included the VHF Data Exchange System (VDES), Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) and Earth Exploration-Satellite Services (EESS) such as satellites utilising Synthetic Aperture Radars (SAR).