{"id":47709,"date":"2026-01-20T23:14:27","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T15:14:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/the-arctic-space-race-heats-up\/"},"modified":"2026-01-20T23:14:27","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T15:14:27","slug":"the-arctic-space-race-heats-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/the-arctic-space-race-heats-up\/","title":{"rendered":"The Arctic Space Race Heats Up"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The race for space dominance continues shifting north to the Arctic.<\/p>\n<p>Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 significantly heightened European and broader Western interest in securing the Arctic. President Trump\u2019s repeated calls to make Greenland part of the U.S. since returning to office further intensifies the stakes in the Upper North.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/B4PZMALShGTcUiSrikIX_VS_010126_DGTL_Cover-300x225.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"width: 120px; height: auto;\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/B4PZMALShGTcUiSrikIX_VS_010126_DGTL_Cover-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/B4PZMALShGTcUiSrikIX_VS_010126_DGTL_Cover-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/B4PZMALShGTcUiSrikIX_VS_010126_DGTL_Cover-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/B4PZMALShGTcUiSrikIX_VS_010126_DGTL_Cover.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"fs-5 mt-0\">Explore the January\/February 2026 Issue<\/h3>\n<p class=\"mb-0 fs-smaller text-balance\">Check out more from this issue and find your next story to read.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<button class=\"btn btn-primary\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"offcanvas\" data-bs-target=\"#offcanvasMENU\" aria-controls=\"offcanvasExample\" aria-label=\"button\" style=\"white-space: nowrap;\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\tView More <i class=\"bi bi-arrow-right-circle\"><\/i><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/button><\/p>\n<p>One thing all countries agree on: achieving Arctic security requires reliable communications, but extreme cold, vast distances and difficult terrain have made laying fiber or building towers impractical.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Arctic used to be a place called \u2018High North, Low Tension\u2019 \u2014 It was a place where people cooperated,\u201d recalls Karen Jones, technology strategist in the Center for Space Policy and Strategy (CSPS) at The Aerospace Corporation, who has studied the region for the past eight years. \u201cSince the invasion of Ukraine, there is a different model in play now \u2014 one with not just heated geopolitics but also heated geo-economics, as Arctic nations compete for the abundant natural resources.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The world\u2019s northernmost point, at the boundary of 66.5 degrees north and covering an area 1 and a half times the size of the United States, is home to 4 million people, including 15,000 Americans, 150,000 Canadians, 490,000 Norwegians, and over 2 million Russians.<\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a67ba752c29f;googletag.cmd.push(function(){var AIMAP_29b58f13885ebf8ea6b032f958eb0748 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([992, 100], [[970, 90], [970, 250]]).addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_737ce075cc05dd766c8f8ea08f3faa73 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1200, 100], [970, 250]).addSize([768, 100], [600, 300]).addSize([320, 100], [300, 250]).build();AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a67ba752c29f = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a67ba752c2a0').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a67ba752c2a0'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Arctic is one of the most demanding environments on Earth: vast, sparsely populated, and defined by extreme conditions,\u201d says Brigadier General Christopher Horner, commander of 3 Canadian Space Division, which supports Canada\u2019s Arctic sovereignty monitoring, search and rescue and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) operations.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBuilding and maintaining terrestrial fiber or cellular networks across thousands of kilometers of permafrost and shifting sea ice is prohibitively expensive and challenging,\u201d Horner tells Via Satellite, citing magnetic anomalies and severe weather as factors that further complicate traditional radio communications, making dependable connectivity a persistent operational and safety challenge.<\/p>\n<p>Despite these challenges, today\u2019s Arctic is fast becoming a focal point for not only strategic competition and global trade but also a new frontier for extracting minerals and energy. A key driver is climate change: polar ice caps are melting four times faster than anywhere else on Earth. The melting glaciers have led to new maritime shipping routes, shortening the connections between Asia, Europe and North America.<\/p>\n<p>Kjell-Ove Orderud Skare, program director for Space Norway\u2019s Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM), calls the ice meltdown \u201ca multiplier for the climate changes in the Arctic,\u201d which has intensified the need for understanding what is happening.<\/p>\n<p>He cites commercial satellite imagery providers supplying the data to monitor the shift. \u201cTracking the changes that enable scientists and policymakers to keep a better watch on a rapidly evolving environment at the top of the world,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>The rapid thawing has also led to a race to access the Arctic\u2019s vast untapped oil, gas, and critical mineral resources, including rare earth elements, iron, nickel, copper, gold, diamonds, platinum, and cobalt. U.S. Geological Survey suggests that 13 percent of the world\u2019s undiscovered oil and 30 percent of undiscovered gas reside in the region, with Russia\u2019s Arctic regions particularly rich in gas.<\/p>\n<h3>The Geopolitical Landscape<\/h3>\n<p>The Arctic continues to be in international headlines with President Trump appointing a special envoy to Greenland, and escalating his calls to see the island become part of the U.S., citing national security. In mid-January, Trump threatened more tariffs on EU countries that oppose U.S. control of Greenland. <\/p>\n<p>European leaders have been united in their opposition to such a move, warning it will end NATO. Trump has also repeatedly urged Canada to become the 51st state.<\/p>\n<p>Unsurprisingly, Russia also considers the Arctic critical to its national security, economy and power, with the region occupying more than one-quarter of Russia\u2019s land mass, according to a report by the European Institute for Security Studies. China has a high demand for imported energy and raw materials. It considers the Arctic of key importance for economic, scientific and strategic reasons, prompting China to self-proclaim itself a \u201cnear-Arctic state,\u201d in a 2018 Arctic policy white paper. <\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a67ba752c7a7;googletag.cmd.push(function(){var AIMAP_29b58f13885ebf8ea6b032f958eb0748 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([992, 100], [[970, 90], [970, 250]]).addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_737ce075cc05dd766c8f8ea08f3faa73 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1200, 100], [970, 250]).addSize([768, 100], [600, 300]).addSize([320, 100], [300, 250]).build();AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a67ba752c7a7 = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a67ba752c7a8').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a67ba752c7a8'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Under the two countries\u2019 Silk Road program, Russia has invested $300 billion in infrastructure, including icebreakers, vessels crucial for Arctic access, as well as ports and pipelines, to build a trade route via the Northern Sea Route.<\/p>\n<p>The North Pole itself is in international waters, comprising the Arctic Ocean, adjacent seas and parts of eight nations \u2014 Canada, Denmark (Greenland), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the U.S.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of missions in the Arctic that we have to do,\u201d says Jones, citing border security, sovereignty protection, vessel assistance, oil spill response, fisheries monitoring, search and rescue, and science and research as examples.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese activities will demand greater cooperation and connectivity as they continue to expand,\u201d  Jones and co-author Lina Cashin stated in their October 2024 paper, \u201cSpace-enabled Capabilities for Connecting and Collaborating in the Arctic.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>Significant Satcom Investment<\/h3>\n<p>The stakes in play in the Arctic are well understood globally, and especially in Canada, where nearly 40 percent of its land mass is considered Arctic and Northern. Its vast Arctic territory has given Canada the world\u2019s longest coastline and a huge portion of the Arctic Archipelago. <\/p>\n<p>As the Arctic\u2019s importance grows, new Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO) satellites are poised to bring communications to a region long denied reliable, high-speed connectivity.<\/p>\n<p>Canada\u2019s Enhanced Satellite Communications Project \u2013 Polar (ESCPP) serves as one example of these investments. Designed to provide Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) with X-band, military Ka-band and ultra-high frequency (UHF) connectivity over the North Pole, the project is part of Canada\u2019s $38.6 billion modernization plan for North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). <\/p>\n<p>In December, Canada\u2019s newly formed Defence Investment Agency selected Telesat and MDA Space to deliver a multi-frequency, Arctic milsatcom capability as part of the ESCPP.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s a huge gap in quality communications in the Arctic today. ESCPP will be a vast, vast improvement for the CAF here in Canada, but also for their allies that are also operating in the Arctic, says Mich\u00e8le Beck, senior vice president, Canadian Sales for Telesat. <\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a67ba752cc0a;googletag.cmd.push(function(){var AIMAP_29b58f13885ebf8ea6b032f958eb0748 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([992, 100], [[970, 90], [970, 250]]).addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_737ce075cc05dd766c8f8ea08f3faa73 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1200, 100], [970, 250]).addSize([768, 100], [600, 300]).addSize([320, 100], [300, 250]).build();AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a67ba752cc0a = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a67ba752cc0b').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a67ba752cc0b'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>While Telesat and MDA Space are currently working with the government to finalize requirements and the architecture of the future system, Beck told Via Satellite that the new system \u201cwill fill a gap where quality communications, low latency, broadband connectivity and secure milsatcom capabilities really don\u2019t exist today.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Beck confirmed that the system will support both narrow-band and wideband communications and likely operate across multiple orbits.<\/p>\n<p>While the government set a 2035 deadline to have an operational capability, Beck said Telesat is optimistic it can deliver capabilities earlier than that date.    <\/p>\n<p>Military requirements clearly are driving satellite investments in the Arctic. Horner notes that imagery and sensing satellites deliver persistent domain awareness by monitoring ice conditions, maritime traffic, environmental changes, and illegal activities such as vessels operating without identification.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese capabilities are critical for search and rescue, disaster response, and defense planning,\u201d says Brig. Gen. Horner, adding that Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) systems are equally vital.  <\/p>\n<p>\u201cHigh latitudes challenge reliability, and adversary jamming or spoofing can degrade signals. Resilient PNT ensures safe navigation for aircraft, ships, and ground forces, and underpins essential services like banking, logistics, and precision agriculture. Roughly 20 percent of Canada\u2019s economy depends on space-enabled architectures, making these capabilities indispensable,\u201d Horner explains.<\/p>\n<p>LEO satellites are attractive for polar regions because their polar orbits provide full-Earth coverage, including the poles, unlike higher-orbit satellites that miss these areas.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"flex flex-col justify-center items-center w-full image-block px-8\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Placeholder alt text\" class=\"w-full object-cover mx-auto\" src=\"http:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/JLZKJ2TLSDGzHMQAeKzW_Eutelsat_Ground_Station_in_Svalbard__Norway.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"p-3 bg-gray-300 bg-opacity-50 italic mx-auto w-full\">Eutelsat\u2019s ground station in Svalbard, Norway. Photo: Eutelsat <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>LEO Service in the Arctic<\/h3>\n<p>Satellite operators see the Arctic as a key area to provide services.<\/p>\n<p>For the last 25 years, Iridium has provided LEO satellite connectivity across the Arctic with its pole-to-pole satellite network.<\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a67ba752d13d;googletag.cmd.push(function(){var AIMAP_29b58f13885ebf8ea6b032f958eb0748 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([992, 100], [[970, 90], [970, 250]]).addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_737ce075cc05dd766c8f8ea08f3faa73 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1200, 100], [970, 250]).addSize([768, 100], [600, 300]).addSize([320, 100], [300, 250]).build();AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a67ba752d13d = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a67ba752d13e').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a67ba752d13e'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re still the only network covering 100 percent of the planet in real time,\u201d notes Iridium spokesperson Jordan Hassin. The Iridium network supports remote monitoring solutions for armed forces and commercial shipping, including polar weather data collection and long-range identification and tracking of ships, as well as voice and data connectivity for individual users.<\/p>\n<p>Telesat\u2019s Lightspeed constellation, designed to serve enterprise and government users, is set to begin launching satellites at the end of 2026 with full global coverage, including in the Arctic, by the end of 2027, says Beck.<\/p>\n<p>Eutelsat\u2019s OneWeb LEO constellation has full polar coverage, says Eva Birgitte Bisgaard, president of the Connectivity Business Unit for Eutelsat.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA LEO constellation covers the whole globe, but you will never have demand across the full globe. What matters is that we can provide capacity where people are,\u201d  explains Bisgaard, who formerly served as chief commercial officer for Maersk, manager of the world\u2019s largest container fleet.<\/p>\n<p>The Copenhagen-based executive says government interest in Eutelsat\u2019s LEO offerings is growing throughout Europe as well as the Arctic because of increasing geopolitical tensions.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re already delivering capacity where the users need it in Ukraine,\u201d she says. Kyiv\u2019s Armed Forces can activate Eutelsat terminals to support a specific military operation, explains Bisgaard.<\/p>\n<p>She considers LEO satellites \u201ccritical\u201d for covering the Arctic region, which lacks alternative connectivity options because of ice covering most of the land areas in and above the Arctic Circle.<\/p>\n<p>One issue that continues to come up, says Bisgaard, who recently attended a NATO conference, is getting government procurement leaders to change their mindset from owning and building their own satellite capacity, to leveraging what exists today. Bisgaard says she hopes military organizations, which are heavily CapEx-oriented, begin to embrace service models like Eutelsat\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p>To address defense concerns for security and guaranteed coverage, Eutelsat offers priority-access connectivity and, if needed, dedicated points of presence (POPs). The company operates two satellite network portals, or SNPs, in the Arctic \u2014 the first in Svalbard and the second in Greenland. There, LEO satellites are the only option because \u201cyou can\u2019t establish normal telco connectivity in those regions,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a67ba752d6da;googletag.cmd.push(function(){var AIMAP_29b58f13885ebf8ea6b032f958eb0748 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([992, 100], [[970, 90], [970, 250]]).addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_737ce075cc05dd766c8f8ea08f3faa73 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1200, 100], [970, 250]).addSize([768, 100], [600, 300]).addSize([320, 100], [300, 250]).build();AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a67ba752d6da = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a67ba752d6db').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a67ba752d6db'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Eutelsat\u2019s Arctic investments also include expanding its partnership with Tusass, Greenland\u2019s national telecom service provider, to bring LEO connectivity to Greenland.  The government of Greenland has banned Starlink since early 2024 to protect Tusass, the government-backed monopoly, which is legally obligated to provide service to all parts of the country, as well as to ensure data sovereignty.<\/p>\n<p>Denmark\u2019s decision hasn\u2019t stopped Starlink from expanding to the High North. According to its availability map, Starlink service is available in Alaska, Canada, Iceland, and Svalbard, as well as Norway, Sweden, and Finland. It is not available in Russia.<\/p>\n<p>Starlink satellites have supported the U.S. military in the polar region since 2022, according to Bloomberg.<\/p>\n<p>In mid-2025, Starlink also put a particular focus on the polar regions, with a stated plan to launch 400 additional satellites to the polar inclination by the end of 2025 to improve service in Alaska and other polar regions.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"flex flex-col justify-center items-center w-full image-block px-8\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Placeholder alt text\" class=\"w-full object-cover mx-auto max-w-sm\" src=\"http:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MPLwMAORFGybM7C7WmPa_KSAT_Norway_copy.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"p-3 bg-gray-300 bg-opacity-50 italic mx-auto max-w-sm\">The Svalbard ground station in Norway. Photo: KSAT <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Ground Station Growth<\/h3>\n<p>Arctic ground station expansion is also booming. Both Canada and Norway are investing in new stations. In addition, Astrolight, a Lithuanian space tech startup, is developing a laser optical ground station in Greenland through a partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA). The new system, being installed in western Greenland, will reduce reliance on traditional radio links while providing high-speed data transfer for polar-operating satellites and is scheduled to deploy at the end of 2026.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo our knowledge, this will be the most northerly optical ground station in the world. It will provide better access to satellites in polar orbits that use this type of connectivity to download their data at higher data rates,\u201d says Laurynas Ma\u010diulis, co-founder and CEO of Astrolight, who estimates that the system will achieve 10 times more data throughput at 70 percent lower cost.<\/p>\n<p>Ma\u010diulis notes that the system is an alternative to RF and fiber comms that can be jammed or cut if they are undersea.<\/p>\n<p>Greenland isn\u2019t the only strategic site for satellite ground investment: Svalbard in Norway is home to the world\u2019s largest ground station with over 100 antennas. The station, called SvalSat, has operated since 1997 under the management of Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT), a joint venture between Kongsberg Defence &amp; Aerospace and Space Norway.<\/p>\n<p>According to Jones, \u201cSvalbard is in a magical location; it\u2019s far enough south to see GEO satellites and also far enough north to maintain almost constant contact with polar-orbiting satellites.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a67ba752dd51;googletag.cmd.push(function(){var AIMAP_29b58f13885ebf8ea6b032f958eb0748 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([992, 100], [[970, 90], [970, 250]]).addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_737ce075cc05dd766c8f8ea08f3faa73 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1200, 100], [970, 250]).addSize([768, 100], [600, 300]).addSize([320, 100], [300, 250]).build();AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a67ba752dd51 = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a67ba752dd52').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a67ba752dd52'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Norway\u2019s governmental responsibility to track shipping activities in the Arctic came into stark clarity back in 2012, a few years after the launch of the country\u2019s first Automatic Identification System for vessel tracking. Called AISSAT-1, it gave Norway its first view of shipping activities in the Arctic, showing that 80 percent of Arctic shipping occurs in areas under Norwegian governmental responsibility.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat was an eye opener,\u201d says Skare, a retired Norwegian Army major general and former NATO officer, now with Space Norway. The discovery underscored the need for robust search-and-rescue, fisheries control, and sovereignty monitoring. At the time, Skare recalls, the only capability for communications in the Arctic was low-bandwidth, high-frequency (HF) or Iridium satellite connectivity.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo coordinate a search and rescue operation in the Arctic if a plane went down was a nightmare situation because of all the international air traffic crossing the poles both ways,\u201d points out Skare, recalling earlier assessments of the Arctic concluding that the only capability missing was satellite-based broadband communications.<\/p>\n<p>Space Norway, established in 2014, is a completely commercially operated government-owned entity.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNorway is the only nation that has that model. Several nations are actually looking at it because they find it is an interesting way to ensure you can deliver capabilities that you can\u2019t expect a commercial company to field,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>That model continues as the company implements its Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission, or ASBM, a pioneering effort in military-commercial and international cooperation. The ASBM mission represents a near-seamless transition between satellites in Highly Elliptical Orbit and Geostationary orbit.  <\/p>\n<p>In August 2024, ASBM 1 and 2 spacecraft from Northrop Grumman launched from California\u2019s Vandenberg Air Base into a highly elliptical orbit to reach the Arctic coverage area. The Space Norway-operated satellite system provides continuous broadband and secure communications across the Arctic, serving both Norwegian defense\/civilian needs, and the U.S. Space Force through a secure payload. ASBM also carried an EU radiation monitoring payload designed to collect radiation-monitoring data.<\/p>\n<p>Looking forward, Arctic nations and a diverse range of large and small space tech firms are working together to ensure that the region has a strong, secure communications infrastructure needed as geopolitical interest in the Arctic intensifies.<\/p>\n<p>Reflecting on the \u201chigh-north, low-tension\u201d cooperation enjoyed historically by Arctic nations, Jones acknowledges there are signs of strain, but she remains hopeful that cooperation will still be possible via organizations like the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the Arctic Council, an intergovernmental forum for cooperation on Arctic issues comprised of the eight Arctic states. She predicts that this spirit of cooperation will continue on issues like environmental monitoring, resource management and situational awareness.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s a recognition that continued ingenuity \u2013 and especially collaboration \u2013 will maximize progress and efficiency in the region,\u201d says Jones, underscoring that upcoming satellite constellations and broadband missions \u201cwill be pivotal.\u201d   <strong class=\"Annotation -strong\">VS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>,<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"widget-title\">In This Issue<\/h2>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 404109:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/9s74eGXwT6ZultQ1xEpQ_VS_010126_DGTL_2-300x225.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/9s74eGXwT6ZultQ1xEpQ_VS_010126_DGTL_2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/9s74eGXwT6ZultQ1xEpQ_VS_010126_DGTL_2-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/9s74eGXwT6ZultQ1xEpQ_VS_010126_DGTL_2-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/9s74eGXwT6ZultQ1xEpQ_VS_010126_DGTL_2.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tThe Key Questions for a Potential SpaceX IPO in 2026: Analyst Roundtable<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 404112:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MVQRh5wWQm6OBr98TYLy_VS_010126_DGTL_3-300x225.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MVQRh5wWQm6OBr98TYLy_VS_010126_DGTL_3-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MVQRh5wWQm6OBr98TYLy_VS_010126_DGTL_3-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MVQRh5wWQm6OBr98TYLy_VS_010126_DGTL_3-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MVQRh5wWQm6OBr98TYLy_VS_010126_DGTL_3.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t10 Defining Moments in Cybersecurity and Space in 2025<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 404115:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/jdXnDnxrR7mxklkkZXHO_VS_010126_DGTL_4-300x225.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/jdXnDnxrR7mxklkkZXHO_VS_010126_DGTL_4-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/jdXnDnxrR7mxklkkZXHO_VS_010126_DGTL_4-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/jdXnDnxrR7mxklkkZXHO_VS_010126_DGTL_4-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/jdXnDnxrR7mxklkkZXHO_VS_010126_DGTL_4.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tCompeting in All Fields: Technologies for Multi-Orbit Architectures<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 404119:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/A0ZhHRTTbWxNIA68i6AD_ut06l1g5TyWyN3EKKk99_VS_040122_DGTL_Govt_New_Space-300x225.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/A0ZhHRTTbWxNIA68i6AD_ut06l1g5TyWyN3EKKk99_VS_040122_DGTL_Govt_New_Space-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/A0ZhHRTTbWxNIA68i6AD_ut06l1g5TyWyN3EKKk99_VS_040122_DGTL_Govt_New_Space-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/A0ZhHRTTbWxNIA68i6AD_ut06l1g5TyWyN3EKKk99_VS_040122_DGTL_Govt_New_Space-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/A0ZhHRTTbWxNIA68i6AD_ut06l1g5TyWyN3EKKk99_VS_040122_DGTL_Govt_New_Space.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tThe Next Space Race Will Be Won on the Ground<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 404122:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"167\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/czigpQwITZueLN1fhxDL_ED_Note-300x167.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/czigpQwITZueLN1fhxDL_ED_Note-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/czigpQwITZueLN1fhxDL_ED_Note-800x446.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/czigpQwITZueLN1fhxDL_ED_Note-640x357.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/czigpQwITZueLN1fhxDL_ED_Note.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t40 Years Young and Still Going Strong<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The race for space dominance continues shifting north to the Arctic. Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 significantly heightened European and broader Western interest in securing the Arctic. President Trump\u2019s repeated calls to make Greenland part of the U.S. since returning to office further intensifies the stakes in the Upper North. Explore the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":47710,"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":[],"class_list":["post-47709","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47709"}],"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=47709"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47709\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/47710"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47709"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47709"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47709"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}