{"id":10041,"date":"2024-08-11T17:16:26","date_gmt":"2024-08-11T09:16:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/spacex-launched-twin-communications-satellites-for-space-norway\/"},"modified":"2024-08-11T17:16:26","modified_gmt":"2024-08-11T09:16:26","slug":"spacex-launched-twin-communications-satellites-for-space-norway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/spacex-launched-twin-communications-satellites-for-space-norway\/","title":{"rendered":"SpaceX launched twin communications satellites for Space Norway"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_67039\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67039\" style=\"width: 876px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67039\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20240811_Space-Norway-Cover-Art_small.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"876\" height=\"657\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20240811_Space-Norway-Cover-Art_small.jpg 876w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20240811_Space-Norway-Cover-Art_small-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20240811_Space-Norway-Cover-Art_small-678x509.jpg 678w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20240811_Space-Norway-Cover-Art_small-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20240811_Space-Norway-Cover-Art_small-326x245.jpg 326w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20240811_Space-Norway-Cover-Art_small-80x60.jpg 80w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 876px) 100vw, 876px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67039\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">An illustration of the two Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM) program satellites on orbit. Illustration: Northrop Grumman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>SpaceX completed its second launch of the weekend with a mission for Space Norway. The company launched its Falcon 9 rocket for the Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM).<\/p>\n<p>The satellites, called ASBM-1 and ASBM-2, are designed to provide both military satellite communications as well as commercial broadband connectivity in the northern polar region. Liftoff happened at 7:02 p.m. PDT (10:02 p.m. EDT 0202 UTC).<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cJkwyjdhwXY\" width=\"678\" height=\"381\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting the mission, B1061 in the SpaceX fleet, launched for a 22nd time, tying it with B1062 for the most flights of a first stage booster. B1061 previously launched the Crew-1 and Crew-2 astronaut missions; two Transporter rideshare launches; and 10 Starlink flights among others.<\/p>\n<p>About eight-and-a-half minutes after liftoff, B1061 will land on the SpaceX droneship, \u2018Of Course I Still Love You.\u2019This marked the 100th booster landing on this droneship as well as the 337th booster landing to date.<\/p>\n<h4>Arctic communication<\/h4>\n<p>The pair of ASBM satellites were built on Northrop Grumman\u2019s GEOStar-3 satellite bus and each weighs about two tons (about 4,000 pounds). They are about 3 x 3 x 4 meters (9.8 x 9.8 x 13.1 feet) and with their solar panels extended, they have a total wingspan of 27 meters (88.6 feet).<\/p>\n<p>The satellites will launch to a highly elliptical orbit, allowing them to access the Arctic region, one which many other geostationary satellites are unable to reach. Space Norway, one of the main partners behind the satellites, said they will use a so-called \u201cThree Apogee Period\u201d with its highest orbital altitude being 43,500 km and the lowest being 8,100 km.<\/p>\n<p>The satellites will operate in the same orbital plane eight hours apart at a 63-degree inclination. The ASBM program was created in 2019 to bring connectivity to the area north of the 65-degree North latitude.<\/p>\n<p>The mission is a joint operation between the U.S. Space Force, Northrop Grumman and Space Norway, which is owned by the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries. Onboard are multiple payloads for both the U.S. and Norwegian militaries along with a radiation monitor for the European Commission.<\/p>\n<p>The commercial communications company, Viasat, also has its Global Xpress (GX) Ka-Band payload onboard as well, which will allow it \u201cto provide seamless broadband to aerospace, maritime and ground users operating in the High North,\u201d according to Northrop Grumman. Viasat said that the GX10A and GX10B payloads mark \u201cthe first time the Viasat network will incorporate payloads in this orbit providing dedicated Arctic coverage.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67036\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67036\" style=\"width: 876px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67036\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20240811_NorthropGrummanAchievesKeyMilestoneinArcticSatelliteBroadbandMission.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"876\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20240811_NorthropGrummanAchievesKeyMilestoneinArcticSatelliteBroadbandMission.jpg 876w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20240811_NorthropGrummanAchievesKeyMilestoneinArcticSatelliteBroadbandMission-300x205.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20240811_NorthropGrummanAchievesKeyMilestoneinArcticSatelliteBroadbandMission-678x464.jpg 678w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20240811_NorthropGrummanAchievesKeyMilestoneinArcticSatelliteBroadbandMission-768x526.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 876px) 100vw, 876px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67036\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">ASBM-1 satellite enters thermal vacuum environmental testing at Northrop Grumman\u2019s satellite manufacturing facility in Dulles, Virginia. Image: Northrop Grumman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The U.S. Space Force\u2019s Space Systems Command delivered its two payloads for integration in 2022. Those are the Enhanced Polar Systems-Recapitalization (EPS-R) payloads. They were built by Northrop Grumman\u2019s Strategic Space Systems Division and are described as \u201can Extremely High Frequency (EHF) Military Satellite Communications (MILSATCOM) system designed to provide 24\/7 secure, anti-jam, low probability of detection\/intercept communications for U.S. forces operating in the Arctic region.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Having hosted payloads onboard these Norwegian satellites allowed SSC to bring their capabilities online \u201cthree years ahead of schedule with potential savings of up to $900 million.\u201d This will also be the first time that a Space Force payload is hosted on a non-U.S. satellite.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis successful payload delivery highlights the diligent work done by the entire government and contractor team,\u201d said Ernest Finney, EPS-R payload manager within SSC\u2019s Military Communication &amp; Positioning, Navigation and Timing directorate, in a 2022 statement. \u201cWe\u2019re excited to begin integration and test with the host space vehicles and to provide this critical operational capability to the warfighter.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67037\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67037\" style=\"width: 876px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67037\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20240811_NorthropGrummanShipsSpaceNorwaysArcticSatelliteBroadbandMissionSatellitestoLaunchSite.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"876\" height=\"584\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20240811_NorthropGrummanShipsSpaceNorwaysArcticSatelliteBroadbandMissionSatellitestoLaunchSite.jpg 876w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20240811_NorthropGrummanShipsSpaceNorwaysArcticSatelliteBroadbandMissionSatellitestoLaunchSite-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20240811_NorthropGrummanShipsSpaceNorwaysArcticSatelliteBroadbandMissionSatellitestoLaunchSite-678x452.jpg 678w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20240811_NorthropGrummanShipsSpaceNorwaysArcticSatelliteBroadbandMissionSatellitestoLaunchSite-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 876px) 100vw, 876px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67037\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Northrop Grumman-built ASBM-1 and ASBM-2 satellites at the company\u2019s satellite manufacturing facility in Dulles, Virginia. Image: Northrop Grumman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Another payload onboard is the Control and Planning Segment (CAPS), which is described as a \u201csingle software baseline, which consolidates segment command, control and planning of its legacy Enhanced Polar System (EPS) and future EPS-Recapitalization (EPS-R) payloads.\u201d That was also provided by Northrop Grumman.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe accomplishment of this key milestone was truly a joint effort and speaks to the outstanding teamwork between Northrop Grumman and our EPS-R program office. The team received and coordinated an enormous amount of technical data which was critical to verify that all segment and element requirements were met. We look forward to the new ground system entering operations,\u201d said 1st Lt. Brooke Kunzelman, SSC EPS-R Ground Segment lead, in a 2023 statement.<\/p>\n<p>The twin spacecraft will also carry an X-Band military broadband payload for the Norwegian Armed Forces.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67038\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67038\" style=\"width: 768px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67038\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20240811_ASBM_Mission_logo_small.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"768\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20240811_ASBM_Mission_logo_small.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20240811_ASBM_Mission_logo_small-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20240811_ASBM_Mission_logo_small-678x678.jpg 678w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20240811_ASBM_Mission_logo_small-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67038\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The mission logo for the Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission launch. Image: Northrop Grumman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An illustration of the two Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM) program satellites on orbit. Illustration: Northrop Grumman SpaceX completed its second launch of the weekend with a mission for Space Norway. The company launched its Falcon 9 rocket for the Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM). The satellites, called ASBM-1 and ASBM-2, are designed to provide [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[1320,1321,479,1322,316,560,954],"class_list":["post-10041","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-arctic-satellite-broadband-mission","tag-asbm","tag-falcon-9","tag-space-norway","tag-spacex","tag-u-s-space-force","tag-u-s-space-systems-command"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10041"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10041"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10041\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10041"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10041"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10041"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}