Picture of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket

Our satellites are launched

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Space Norway is proud to finally launch our two ASBM satellites. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will bring the satellites into orbit, where they will provide continuous broadband coverage north of the 65° N latitude.

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Broadcasting launch

Available on launch day

Onboard our satellites are payloads from the Norwegian Armed Forces, the US Space Force, and the commercial satellite operator Viasat. There is also a Norwegian-developed payload onboard one of the satellites that will measure radiation levels. This information will be used by the European Commission in their work with the new Galileo communication satellites. This is the first time in history that an American military payload is hosted on a non-American satellite. Normally, they build their own satellites and launch them themselves. The satellites each weigh around two tons, are approximately 3x3x4 meters in size, and have a wingspan with unfolded solar panels of about 27 meters. To ensure continuous coverage over the northern areas, the satellites follow a highly elliptical orbit, meaning that the highest orbit altitude is 43,500 km when they are over the north and the lowest orbit altitude is 8,100 km when they orbit the Earth in the south.
Partners on the ASBM include IDEAS who built the radiation monitor that will deliver data to the European Commission, SpaceX handles the launch, Northrop Grumman has built the satellites, and the satellite operator Viasat which will offer broadband to end-users in the Arctic. Additionally, the Norwegian Armed Forces and the US Armed Forces have payloads onboard. KSAT has built the ground infrastructure.