Using small satellites has increased in numbers over the years in the scientific community, and in the planning and developing phase there are hundreds of very good projects worldwide. However, launching them is becoming increasingly more difficult, and the most costly part of a project. There are several possibilities available, piggybacks at a large launcher, […]
Andreas in Space
The Training is Finished and the First Dane is In Space.
Alfred Lunde and Apollo 13
Most people, in particular, scientists and people merely in interested in space issues will undoubtedly remember the dramatic days of April 1970. Apollo 13 was the third mission with a moon landing and further investigation of t the surface as the primary goal, however, the lunar landing was aborted after an oxygen tank exploded two […]
NASA’s MMS – Magnetospheric MultiScale Mission
Star Cameras From Denmark Technical University Used to Handle Navigation
Thor 7 – In Progress for Launch
In the not too distant future the Norwegian Telenor Satellite Broadcasting will launch a new satellite in their Thor series of communication satellites at 1o West. Along with existing satellites, the satellite is going to ensure that Telenor is able to meet the growing demand of capacity in the European broadcast and broadband market.
MATS – New Swedish Satellite
In the past two decades, Sweden has gained notoriety for its extraordinary capacity to develop, build and manage smaller satellites, such as Freja, Astrid, Odin, SMART 1 and Prisma; satellite projects that have become indispensable in the scientific community.
The World Needs Space
Nearly everybody was there; proof that the organisation enjoys great support, even at the highest level of the space community. Besides, nearly everybody is of the opinion that the world needs space.
Meeting Point For the Community of Space Interested – The IAF’s Congress
Even years before the first satellite was launched, the community involved in space research and exploration had had their almost annual congress exchanging ideas, meeting colleagues, attract new contacts and get professional updates, or as the slogan for the organisation suggests; “Connecting space people”. Founded in 1951, the International Astronautical Federation is the world’s […]
2015 – The Year of Light
The United Nations (UN) has proclaimed 2015 as the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies (IYL 2015). A year focused on health-, communication-, economy-, environment- and social possibilities.
Building, Launching and Managing Small Satellites – the Nordic Countries Can Do It in the Near Future
Small satellites, in the micro and mini class, are very suitable for many tasks; however, they have mostly been used as student satellites, but now they may prove to be of more current interest for the more professional market. In the size of 100 x 100 mm and 1 kilograms, they can contain small scientific payloads, mainly used for educational purposes. If need be they can be assembled as stacks of several cubes and give an extended satellite. However, there are limits for miniaturizing and the next step will be payloads placed at some larger platform.
If it turns out successfully, as planned, Sweden and Norway are capable of providing the whole spectre of service from building platforms and payloads, to launching and managing small satellites.
It may all become a reality in the next decade – satellites developed and built in the Nordic countries, launched with a Nordic developed launcher from the Northern Norway and managed through the Norwegian satellite station on Svalbard.