Our Projects

Arctic Ocean Surveillance

Space Norway's role in the Arctic Ocean Surveillance programme
Space Norway is supporting the Norwegian company Eidel in their Arctic Ocean Surveillance Demo satellite programme.

The Arctic Ocean Surveillance (AOS) programme is an initiative by the Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA) in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA).

The main goal of the AOS programme is to enhance the national capability of performing assembly, integration, and testing of satellites. In this context, two companies, EIDEL and Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace (KDA), have each been awarded a contract to build a satellite with ocean surveillance capabilities.

Space Norway is supporting Eidel on the AOS-D project. AOS-D is a demonstration satellite. KDA is building the precursor satellite AOS-P.

satellite monitoring for government's defence and civil sectors
Advisory support through the Arctic Ocean Surveillance process
In order to enhance ocean surveillance capability further, Space Norway will deliver two payloads to be integrated onto the AOS demo satellite.

Space Norway will deliver two payloads to be integrated onto the satellite: SDR – Software Defined Radio and PDHT – Payload Data Handling and Transmission.

The PDTH is a state-of-the-art high-speed downlink. Both the SDR and the PDHT are developed and delivered by the Norwegian company WideNorth.

In addition to the payloads, Space Norway has been supporting and will continue to support EIDEL with expertise in the following areas:

  • Satellite platform proposal evaluation
  • Mission concept and mission requirements
  • Antenna and RF technology
  • Security
  • System and design requirements
  • Flat-sat testing
  • In-orbit testing
  • Regulatory
  • Milestone reviews:
    • Preliminary Design Review (PDR)
    • Critical Design Review (CDR)
    • Test Readiness Review (TRR)
    • Flight Readiness Review (FRR)
  • Launch preparation

 

The satellite is planned to be launched in 2027 from Andøya Spaceport in Northern Norway.

AOS-D in orbit above Norway.
Illustration: EIDEL
Significance of satellite surveillance in safeguarding 
Arctic Ocean Satellite programme will be part of Norway's national surveillance.

The satellite mission will contribute to Norway’s surveillance for safeguarding against disasters, enhancing maritime safety, monitoring activities for sovereignty, and supporting environmental conservation.

By tracking maritime activity in the Arctic oceans, the AOS demo satellite will play a pivotal role supporting Norwegian responsibility in the Arctic.

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passenger ship in the arctic