ANNUAL REPORT 2017 THERE NOW ARE 4,256 SATELLITES ORBITING THE PLANET, “There was nowhere to go but 179 more than a year ago. Of the current total, 1,419 are operational. everywhere, so just keep on The number of satellites has grown impressively since KSAT had its rolling under the stars.” first satellite contact the night of May 17, 1968. JACK KEROUAC (1922-1969) IN “ON THE ROAD” KSAT has changed over the 15 years success for KSAT depends on its teams, Station in 1967 and the first contact we have been in operation. We’ve and partly because experience suggests in 1968. It’s worth remembering that consistently added to our portfolio of that we should take the best of the past this took place only 10 years after the That first satellite contact from Tromsø, Los Angeles, USA. Lamentably, our activities and sought synergies between with us when we prepare for the future. first satellites were launched. One of Norway triggered an industrial develop- Canadian station in Inuvik, NWT still our business areas. Whenever Satellite Hence, in 2017, we continued to focus the first Norwegian computers was ment that became Kongsberg Satellite awaits Canadian Government licenses Operations supports a new mission, it on customers, unconventional and installed at KSAT and paved the way Services (KSAT), now the world’s largest to attain operational status. The total also creates an opportunity for the flexible solutions, and technological for the digital revolution in Norway. ground station service provider. That number of antennas has grown to 138 Energy, Environment and Security development. Innovative designs and new ideas placed evolution was driven by enthusiastic and is still growing. I’m particularly (EES) part of the organization. Rapid Norway in the forefront. When the PRESIDENT PRESIDENT REPORT engineers with innovative ideas. pleased to note that our ground sta- data access is important, and an EES By its nature, space is a business sector KSAT Svalbard satellite ground station tion in Antarctica is now our second need for more data opens new oppor- in which change traditionally takes was inaugurated in 1997, the KSAT The space sector is still a developing largest, reflecting the importance of a tunities for SOP. time. In the spring of 2000 I visited predecessor was already middle aged. industry, as more satellites are being true pole-to–pole capability. The KSAT Denver and San Francisco to discuss KSAT itself has become a teenager, 15 launched, the amount of data collected organization also expanded in 2017. In our fast-paced sector, I normally a program that would evolve into the years old. I’m proud to observe that the is increasing exponentially, and new don’t look back. That said, this year next generation, sophisticated meteo- growth of KSAT has been remarkable, applications are identified almost daily. The expansion included the establish- I’ll make an exception, in part because rological satellites built by NASA and more than 10% a year, in part due to Not to mention the small sat revolu- ment of three new subsidiaries, KSAT I humbly admit that the continued its contractors and operated by NOAA. the customer focus, and dedication of, tion and the mega constellations now Global (Norway), CSGSI (Canada), In November 2017, the satellite, now the KSAT teams. being designed and implemented. and CSGSP (Chile). We aim for growth called Joint Polar Satellite System no 1 KSAT plays a key role in this develop- that complies with all applicable (JPSS-1) was launched. Its orbiting We aim to continue developing new ment. Even though the satellites are regulations, as compliance is essential marked the entry of KSAT into a services and to expand our operations, indispensable tools in information for all users of the radiofrequency new area. We became responsible based on the legacy of our history. The gathering, the data must be delivered to spectrum as in any other area of for collection of data for operational projected growth in number of satel- the user efficiently and without delay modern business. meteorology for the world’s two major lites to be launched in the next decade in a reliable and predictable manner. meteorology organizations. Timely is impressive. KSAT aims to serve the The data also must be converted into Satellite based vessel detection and the and reliable delivery of services with a international user community with useful services, where actionable in- focus on illegal fishery is an increas- proficiency close to 100% is one aspect. new services, more ground stations formation – not data – is the essential. ingly important sector in our opera- Being around till 2042 when the initial and innovative solutions for more than KSAT is developing its service offering tions, so in 2017, we expanded it. The period ends is another. Should anyone the 50 years to come. in this market as well. total value of illegal fishing is estimated doubt, we aim to be here until then at more than 10 billion Euro per year. and longer. Rolf Skatteboe Consequently, in 2017 we have con- So we prioritize the implementation of President tinued to adapt to, and help shape, our new services that curtail illegal fishing As the articles in this Annual Report market. For satellite operations (SOP), practices. Our strong focus on multi- reflect, KSAT has been around and we inaugurated two new ground mission near real-time delivery of vessel intends to be around for some time. It stations in Punta Arenas, Chile and in detection services is the key to success. Rolf Skatteboe all started with the Tromsø Telemetry ANNUAL REPORT 2017 REPORT ANNUAL 2017 REPORT ANNUAL 02 03 BY ARVID ØVERGÅRD Arvid Øvergård was one of the 7 supporting this launch, he has also been i station manager at the TSS. This is his reflection from this special day. ON 17 MAY 1968, AT 3:07 AM (CET), the SCOUT rocket was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California carrying the European Space Research Organisation ESRO-2B satellite, Europe’s first. A few minutes later the telex message from the control centre read: “May 17, 02:07 z lift off confirmed.” Preparations had been underway at the Tromsø Satellite Station (TSS) for several hours. But now excitement notched up. If everything went as planned, the first signals from the ESRO-2B satellite would be received in about 100 minutes. THE BEGINNING The preparations had actually begun Earth stations. Pulse Code Modulation in January. Simulations had been run (PCM) had been developed and tested more or less continuously, using data during the Second World War, but was from the final tests of the satellite. We far from being a routine technology. At had direct communication lines to the TSS, the PCM gear was connected to a European Space Operations Centre Norwegian-developed digital comput- (ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany, and er. At the time, TSS was the first station the simulations had been performed as of its kind in world to have a digital realistically as possible. But simulating computer connected to its decoding a satellite flyby might differ consider- equipment. It was to become a key ele- ably from conducting it in practice, not ment in the station real-time services. least because this was the first time it Named SAM-2, the digital computer had been done. For both the small TSS had been developed at the Norwegian staff and for the satellite controllers in Defence Research Establishment ESOC, the event was a baptism by fire. (NDRE) at Kjeller, near Oslo. It was to trigger the foundation of Norsk Data, Not only the human staffs were new but that’s another story. at it. The ESRO-2B was fitted with a new technology for sending signals to Telefax confirmes «lift off». ANNUAL REPORT 2017 REPORT ANNUAL 2017 REPORT ANNUAL 04 05 The team is very content having received signals from Europe’s first satellite. From left side: Otto Pettersen, Mia Berglund, Kåre Amundsen, Arvid Øvergård, Jon Berg, Hans Petter Falao, Hans Magnar Pettersen, Roald Pedersen and Dagfinn Leiulfsrud. The small TSS staff had meticulously The critical instant was when ESRO-2B “Tromsø confirm AOS at 03:31:15;” adjusted all equipment according to would fly into the antenna beam. The The message is forwarded to ESOC ESOC instructions. We had used the distance from the antenna to the satellite using voice control. nominal orbital parameters to program at that time would be about 3800 km. the antennas, consisting of azimuth The predicted time to receive the signals, “Confirm PCM-lock” Kåre reports. and elevation look angles for the first Acquisition of Signal, (AOS), from the This means that the demodulation satellite flyby. The look angles were satellite was set to be 03:31:00 Z. gear has locked onto the signal from entered into the antenna control unit the satellite. I immediately reports to ensure smooth movement. The big THE EVENT “PCM lock” to ESOC and the satellite question was therefore whether they The station clock showed 03:25 Z in controller confirms receiving the mes- were correct. Would ESRO-2B appear the telemetry room; the silence was sage. We have started the first satellite in the sector of sky at which the anten- deafening. At the receiver, Dagfinn reception and “all systems are looking nas aimed? and Hans Magnar stared at the green good.” Now everything happens as line on its display. They would be the simulated for the past months. The wait was unbearably long. But first to see a received signal. The antenna elevation is increasingly Launch Control had reported that higher, and the first command signals the rocket had performed as planned.