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.
The Journey is Completed – Rosetta Has Met the Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
Wednesday 6 August 2014 it happened, the comet on track towards the Sun and Rosetta launched ten years ago, met in space, and will now follow each other for more than a year onwards. This event was marked and fully celebrated at the European Space operation Centre in Darmstadt, Germany (ESOC) the 6 August. […]
Nordics Who Have Distinguished Themselves in the Scientific Community
From the beginning of time, various people in various ways around the world have distigushed themselves regading the scientific evolution. Many of the fundamental laws of today originate from great philosophers in the late Middle Ages and throughout the very productive period in the beginning of the 20th century, with Albert Einstein, Max Planck, Ervin […]
The Dream About a Scandinavian Satellite Operator
Tele-X Was Supposed to be a Scandinavian Satellite – and Scandinavia a Large Satellite Operator This year marks 25 years since the first Scandinavian communication satellite was launched. Originally, a Norwegian/Swedish project, but the cooperation project ended before the first satellite was launched. In 1982, the governments of Sweden and Norway formed the Nordic […]
Aircraft Tracking from Space
The two recent tragic and mysterious catastrophes that hit Malaysia Airlines have generated support for airline tracking services. Through the history of aircrafts, the different aircrafts have been monitored and managed from dedicated management systems on the ground, and much of the flight history is secured through the so- called “Black Box” onboard. The […]
Swedish Instrument Circling a Comet
Rosetta Near the Comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko After more than ten years in space the comet chaser Rosetta is supposed to meet the target 6 August and will follow the comet for more than a year. After the rendezvous Rosetta will start the scientific investigations, investigations that will add much new knowledge about the comets that now […]
The Cosmic Vision Selection Process
Featured Picture: Pulsar encased in supernova bubble. Credit ESA ESA’s Cosmic Vision and the economic framework make up the main factors for Europe’s engagement within space science and lay the conditions for ESA’s selection for the next years of space science projects. The programme provides the main direction for the research, but how fast the […]