The Development of the Northern Satellite Service

Launch- and operational cost have been prohibiting factors for small satellite systems. and it is becoming clearer that a new philosophy must be adopted to accommodate the reduced budgets of such systems. This paper discusses the design of an integrated launch facility for small polar orbiting satellites and sounding rockets. It focuses on the development of a cost-effective total service for integration, launch, operation and TT&C for micro-satellites, called the Northern Satellite Service (NSS). The goal is to create a flexible service, and offer this service to the international market The proposed launch facility is based on the existing infrastructure of AndØya Rocket Range (ARR) (69'30'N, 16'OO'E) which is the launch facility of the Norwegian Space Centre (NSC) and Esrange (67°56'N, 21 °04 'E). A general telemetry, tracking and control (TT&C) station located in Longyearbyen (LYR) on the island of Svalbard (7S'09'N, 16'02'E) is proposed as a supplement to the Troms~ Satellite Station (TSS) (69'39'N, IS•56'E). Such a station will give 100% ground coverage for tracking of high inclination satellites. Technical, operational, market and organizational aspects of such a service has been assessed and it has been required that the proposed service should operate commercially, based on international cooperation. A preliminary business plan has been written. A feasibility study is now conducted as joint Norwegian-Swedish project