TAMPA, Fla. — Norway’s Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has ordered three spy microsatellites to maintain tabs on vessels working clandestinely within the North Sea.
Kongsberg ordered the satellites from Lithuania’s NanoAvionics for a 2024 launch.
The satellites can have devices Kongsberg has developed to detect Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders, which all passenger ships and most ocean-going vessels above a sure tonnage should carry by regulation.
If these ships deactivate their AIS, Kongsberg stated a separate sensor it has developed can monitor indicators from the radars they use to keep away from crashing into boats and different obstacles which are particularly exhausting to see at evening.
In a May 18 information launch saying the order, Kongsberg stated the satellites’ potential to trace so-called darkish vessels will assist Norway’s protection operations and efforts to crack down on actions together with unlawful fishing, smuggling and environmental crime.
The firm additionally goals to promote maritime site visitors info to industrial clients for knowledge evaluation functions.
The satellites might be operated by floor station provider Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT), a three way partnership with Norway’s area company, and can use encryption software program developed by Norwegian agency Eidsvoll Electronics.
NanoAvionics stated the spacecraft might be primarily based on the MP42 microsatellite bus, which at “50-kilogram-plus” is the Lithuanian agency’s largest but because it expands out of the 10-kilogram-and-under nanosatellite class to develop bigger smallsats with extra capabilities.
“The agreement with Kongsberg is a perfect example of our technological capabilities and proof that adding microsatellites to our portfolio was the right move,” NanoAvionics CEO and co-founder Vytenis Buzas stated.
“While nanosatellites are still in a high demand, it’s the microsatellites that offer new opportunities and room for more advanced missions and applications. The mission also demonstrates the continued strength of European space companies and agencies working together.”
NanoAvionics stated its MP42 bus gained flight heritage April 2022, when it carried a payload for Luxembourg connectivity startup OQ Technology that launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshare mission.
Kongsberg stated its settlement with NanoAvionics kinds the idea for a bigger satellite tv for pc constellation to extend protection areas, revisit instances and embody various kinds of sensors.
“We intend to expand the network with more satellites, but have not made formal decisions on this yet,” Evelyn Honoré-Livermore, system engineer and venture supervisor at Kongsberg, instructed SpaceInformation by way of e-mail.
“We plan to cover other parts of the world, ultimately achieving global coverage. For now, we are looking at the North Atlantic and some options in the southern hemisphere.”
Honoré-Livermore stated the corporate is contemplating methods to mix AIS, radio-frequency and artificial aperture radar (SAR) sensors for future satellites.
Earth commentary sensors “are also natural to explore at the next stage,” Honoré-Livermore added.
Kongsberg has not chosen a launch supplier for deploying its satellites.
“Our ambition is to launch the first satellite with Isar Aerospace from Andøya [in Norway] or with SpaceX, but we are not confirmed on this point yet,” Honoré-Livermore stated.
Germany-based Isar is creating a small launch automobile referred to as Spectrum, which is slated to make its maiden launch from Andøya late this 12 months or early subsequent 12 months. Kongsberg owns 10% of the Andøya Space Center in northern Norway.
Cheaper and extra succesful small satellites have opened up new markets for surveillance capabilities, and attracted a number of startups trying to carve out industrial companies on this space.
U.S.-based HawkEye 360, which has a considerable foothold on this market, has additionally been utilizing its satellites to detect GPS interference in and round Ukraine amid Russia’s warfare there.
British startup Horizon Technologies, Luxembourg-based Kleos Space and France’s Unseenlabs plan to deploy satellites within the close to time period to construct out their maritime surveillance capabilities.