50 years Norway as a space nation 50 years as a space nation

Contents

Norway in space 4 Young rocket scientists on Andøya 36 First blast off 6 Leading the world in satellite communications 37 Our unknown multi-talent 10 Vital satellite navigation 42 The European road to space 13 Norway's eye in space 46 The space industry: innovative and traditional 16 At the top of the world 50 Earth watchers 20 To Mars from Svalbard 54 A place in the sun 27 Working in the space industry 58 The Norwegian northern lights pioneers 32 Europe's new time machine 60 Lasers in the night 34

Cover photo: Kolbjørn Dahle 50 years P h

We are entitled to get excited now that we're celebrating oto : Tru de E n Norway's 50th anniversary as a space nation. We are as a space nation entitled to be proud of the fact that the first rocket has been followed by more than a thousand others. We are entitled g to be pleased with the sound scientific, commercial and societal expertise we have built up in space technology over the course of these 50 years. Things have turned out very differently from what we envisaged when Ferdinand was launched in the 1960s. We were very optimistic about space travel then, and many people believed that it was only a question of a few decades before we made it to Mars. We envisaged a permanent set- tlement on the moon and that hotel breaks orbiting the Earth would soon become a holiday option. There has been incredible development, but in a com- pletely different direction than into space. What has actu- ally happened is that space technology has become com- pletely integrated in daily life – on Earth. Everything from television, computer and telecommu- Norwegian space industry. International agreements such nications networks to rescue services, navigation, weather as the Esrange Andøya Special Project (EASP ) are vital for forecasting and environmental monitoring depends on sat- the activities at Andøya. ellites in order to function. We live in a technology-based However, while major space projects will rely on more world and cannot get by without space. international collaboration in the time ahead, small satel- In Norway, we were quick to realize the potential lites have, relatively speaking, become much more reason- importance of space in practical terms. In addition to able. This enables Norway to invest in national projects our scientific contributions to space exploration, we based on its domestic needs, of which there are plenty. invested in ground-based services and the development We have a long coastline, a vulnerable environment, rich of telecommunications in the North Sea and other marine resources and a harsh climate. This will be the second focus areas. Over the last few decades, we have also focused on area for Norway. the use of Earth observation in public administration. Based on what the first fifty years have brought about in But everything has a price, and as far as space is con- terms of progress, on behalf of the Norwegian space indus- cerned, that price is often high. Building large satellites is try, I am incredibly optimistic about the years ahead. a costly business, and today's space industry is therefore based on international collaboration. This is not least Bo N Andersen the case for a small space nation like Norway. Member- Director General of the Norwegian Space Centre ship of the European Space Agency is fundamental to the

NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION | 3 Norway in space

There are more than 150 satellites containing Norwegian technology in space. The Norwegian space industry produces goods and services for about NOK 6 billion a year, and the satellites have a wide range of applications.

Launchers: For many years, the Norwegian space industry has been supplying cutting-edge technology Research: Norwegian astrophysicists for the European launcher Ariane 5, are among the best in the world, launched from Kourou in French and take part in the most prestigious Guiana. cosmology research projects. The Planck spacecraft is one of them. The Space Station: Norway has Navigation: Satellite-based made important contributions to the Earth observation: Earth observa- positioning, navigation and International Space Station for many tion is one of the most important accurate timekeeping are part of an years, through research into fields fields for the European space indus- infrastructure of great importance to such as space biology and indoor try. Norway is a major consumer of society. Norway is playing an active climate. We now also have an instru- data from land, sea and air. In the role in developing and operating ment on the station that we use for illustration, Earth observation is rep- Europe's new Galileo system. In 2020, monitoring marine traffic. resented by the CryoSat satellite. the system will comprise 30 satellites.

4 | NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION Illustration: Trond Abrahamsen 5 | Norwegian satellite: satellite: Norwegian AISSat-1 is the Norwegian satellite, first government's and it monitors marine . It is particularly traffic . useful in the High North NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION SPACE A AS YEARS 50 CELEBRATES NORWAY The Andøya Andøya: Andøya: Rocket Range is also part of the Norwegian ground-based space . It was here infrastructure that it all started in 1962. Since then, the rocket has launched over a range thousand research rockets for researchers all over the world. Satellite Telenor (represented . Telenor Communication: Communication: communication accounts - for about Norwe 70% of gian space-related turno- ver here by the Thor 7 satellite) is the biggest Norwegian company involved, and owns its own satellites. TV broadcasting, marine com- munication and telemedi- cine are important areas. A great deal of Norway's space activities Norway's take place on or from the Norway, ground. Northern Antarctica and Svalbard locations are favourable for such activities. The SvalSat ground station has biggest become the world's commercial data down- loading station. - infra Ground-based structure: Photo: FFI First blast off

On a summer's day 50 years ago, Norway's first research rocket took off from the grassland between the mountains of Andøya and the sea. This launched Norway into the space age.

By Christer Aasen For most people, there was nothing special about Saturday 18 August 1962. Two days earlier, Ringo Starr had got a new job as the drummer for The Beatles. A week later, NASA launched Mariner 2, the first space probe that would visit another planet when it passed by Venus a few months later. For most people, it was just another weekend day with nothing in particular happening. But on a small island fac- ing the ocean in the north of Norway, this was the day that Norway became a space nation. Between 20 and 30 people were working energetically in the grassy field at the foot of the jagged peaks of Røyken, the mountains behind Oksebåsen on Andøya. A few simple huts had been set up not far from the launch ramp. To the west, there was ocean as far as the eye could see. Most of the people were working for the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI). Journalists and photo­graphers were making sure they were ready to capture the moment. The multi-talented Odd Dahl was there too. High and low. Tightening screws, testing, measuring and weighing. Anders Omholt of the University of Oslo's Department of Physics, was also watching the preparations. ‘Dahl was the prime mover during the fine-tuning and the launch. He was the one who felt responsible and in real- ity was in charge of the launch,’ says Anders Omholt, 50 years later. Everyone on Andøya that day was composed, yet tense. There were no back-up instruments if anything were to go wrong. There was no money for things like that. The Norwegian authorities had approved the construction of Andøya Rocket Range and the creation of a plan for the Norwegian space industry, but was reluctant to spend money. The Norwegian space activity was a political hot potato.

NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION | 7 When Ferdinand 1 was launched, became of interest to the armed forces, Finn Lied was summoned to the office Anders Omholt did not think that this but it was also of financial importance of Nils Handal, Minister of Defence, would be the start of Norway's road to the fisheries and shipping. where he was told that ‘space belongs into space. Almost 50 Norwegian researchers to Our Lord’. Anyone with visions of ‘I thought that now we had to suc- and engineers were working in Eng- Norwegian astronauts and long journeys ceed, if we were to have any kind of land during the war. One of them was to unknown galactic shores was quickly Norwegian space activity.' Finn Lied, a man who would come to brought back down to Earth. Ever since The Andøya Rocket Range of today have a great deal of influence on the then, the Norwegian space activities has is quite a different story, and just part direction that the Norwegian space primarily been about utility. Its technol- of the evidence showing that what activity would take. Lied eventually ogy should serve mankind and be useful Omholt hoped for came true. But we became the second director of the to the Norwegian people. have to go back to the war to see how it Norwegian Defence Research Estab- In a meeting of the Royal Norwegian all really started. lishment (FFI). Council for Scientific and Industrial The Second World War had demon- As the cold war became colder, the Research (NTNF) in January 1960, the strated that radio communication was areas of the High North became stra- decision was made to establish a space an extremely important military tool, tegically more important for both the research committee. The committee and at the end of the 1940s, research- East and the West. was to assess whether it was time for ers understood that complex geophys- Rocket and satellite technology Norway to step into the space age, and ical conditions in the High North had got going in earnest in the 1950s if so, how it should go about it. an effect on radio communication. and 1960s, and in the defence and The conclusion was that the time The key to this lay in a better foreign policy context, space became had come, and the committee placed understanding of the ionosphere, the a source of tension between the great emphasis on research into the upper part of the Earth's atmosphere. superpowers. ionosphere and northern lights, not The ionosphere becomes ionizieded by As soon as the Soviet Union least because of Norway's long tradi- solar radiation, and plays an essential launched Sputnik 1, the first ever tions in this area. role because it reflects radio waves man-made satellite, on 4 October The FFI wanted to use Norway's over short distances. 1957, the authorities made it quite location near the northern lights It was for this reason that develop­ clear what they thought Norway's zone to get American researchers to ing newer, better radio communication approach to space should be. support the development of a rocket

8 | NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION range in Northern Norway. In August In the early days, the rocket range and expanded. Over time, the Nor- 1960, the FFI submitted its plans for was sparsely equipped. It comprised a wegians became less dependent on space research to the Ministry. This launch ramp, a small concrete build- American expertise. Despite further plan included the construction of a ing from which people could observe developments and the installation of rocket range on Andøya. the rockets, a small building in which permanent equipment, the facilities Andøya was almost perfect for rocket to assemble the rockets, and a build- remained small and simple for several launches. NATO had financed an airstrip ing earmarked to be a control centre. years. The range was not permanently there in the 1950s. The island faces A lot of the technical equipment manned until 1965. Before that, the the sea, which makes it suitable for was imported from the USA and range was only used during launch launching rockets, and not least, Andøya financed by the US Air Force. This campaigns. is close to the northern lights belt. covered the costs of the first four Nike- The Norwegian government was Cajun rockets that were used for the The rocket range today: performing a delicate balancing act first-generation Ferdinand payloads. between keeping the USA interested in The rockets came from the US Army Andøya Rocket Range prepares and car- the High North, while keeping the ten- surplus stores. They were cheap and ries out rocket launches and balloon oper- sion between Norway and the Soviet reliable. ations on Andøya and Svalbard. The range Union to a minimum. Incidents like The weather was kind on the day also has a large number of ground-based the U2 affair in 1960 placed the gov- that Ferdinand 1 was launched at research instruments. Andøya Rocket Range owns and runs the ALOMAR Obser- ernment in a difficult position, but the 09:09. The two-stage rocket carried vatory, located at the top of the Ramnan government gradually became con- two instruments on board. One was mountain on Andøya. vinced that the project was of a civil built by Danish researchers and the The Andøya Rocket Range is a com- nature, and it approved the plans. other by FFI. FFI took care of the full pany with many national and international Perhaps it was no coincidence that payload integration. Ferdinand 1 was customers, including ESA, NASA, JAXA the first Norwegian rocket was called intended to climb to 160 km, but only (the Japanese space agency) and several Ferdinand, after the pacifist bull who managed to get to 102 km. However, universities and institutes. would rather smell the flowers than the launch and the data obtained were Andøya Rocket Range is owned by the fight. The name also tied in well with generally regarded as a success. Ministry of Trade and Industry (90%) and the fact that the launch would be from In the years that followed, the Kongsberg Defence Systems (10%). Oksebåsen (‘the bull pen’) on Andøya. rocket range was gradually improved

NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION | 9 Odd Dahl working on one of the instruments on Ferdinand 1 in 1962. Photo: FFI

Our unknown multi-talent Researcher, pilot, designer, engineer and multi- nuclear reactors at Kjeller and in Halden. Never seen without a cigar talented genius. Odd Dahl – unique and famous in his in his mouth, he built CERN’s first day, but almost forgotten now. accelerator and the solar observatory at Harestua. He was on good terms By Christer Aasen with Robert Oppenheimer, Enrico Fermi, Niels Bohr, and had chatted He might not have been all that bothered eventually be launched from the Andøya with Albert Einstein. about CVs, but anyone who dared to Rocket Range. It would be easy to believe that Dahl compare their career with Odd Dahl's Dahl played an important role had had a classical university educa- would most likely come off the loser. when the Norwegian space industry tion, but even in that department, he At Andøya, he had a hand in almost was in its infancy, but that wasn't what was different. He wasn't actually even every aspect of the work leading up to the made him unique. a qualified engineer, but he is perhaps launch of Ferdinand 1. He had built the one of the best engineers that Norway launch ramp and been involved in the versatile has ever had. construction of one of the instruments. Odd Dahl made journeys across the ice Odd Dahl was born on 11 March His role at the Christian Michelsen Insti- with Amundsen, was lauded for his 1898 in Drammen. His family moved tute, meant that he was instrumental in research in the USA, built radiation to Kristiania (now Oslo) in 1909, developing 111 of the payloads that would therapy machines in Bergen and where he took his school leaving

10 | NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION Odd Dahl gesticulating under the launch ramp that he had Odd Dahl (on the ladder) and Merle Tuve with a 2-metre Van de Graaff built. Photo: FFI generator built at the Carnegie Institution in Washington D.C. in 1935. Photo: CMR certificate in 1914. Aged 15, he was One day, he canoed past Roald Søreide in a film made by Christian taken on as an apprentice by the elec- Amundsen's ship Maud. Amundsen Michelsen Research in Bergen. trical engineering firm Fenger Hagen, was busy preparing for an expedition Søreide was a friend and colleague of and moved to Stavanger. through the North East Passage. Dahl Dahl for many years. looked into the possibility of joining flying physicist the expedition, and was taken on south america Dahl had his first technical article as pilot for its Curtis plane – and When the expedition ended in 1925, published in 1920, about wireless tele­ engineer, telegraph operator and film Odd Dahl went to South America. phone stations for fishing vessels, an photographer. He crossed the Andes, canoed on the invention that was banned by the Nor- During the years that the expedi- Amazon and later wrote a book about wegian Telegraph Administration. He tion spent on the ice, Dahl assisted the his experiences. He then got a job as also designed a direction indicator for chief scientist Harald Ulrik Sverdrup a laboratory engineer at the Carnegie cars, which the authorities would not with his scientific studies. Dahl devel- Institute in Washington. approve because they thought it was oped and built new measuring instru- Here he worked closely with M.A. easier for drivers to use their arms. ments, and with Sverdrup's help, Tuve and L.R. Hafstad, two physicists Dahl wanted to fly. In 1921, he was began to read physics – literally out on of Norwegian descent. Eventually, all accepted by the Norwegian Air Force the ice. From what we hear, Amund- three were to be awarded the annual Flying School at Kjeller, and graduated sen did not like to be disturbed by sci- prize from the American Association top of his class. He also loved the great entific debates on board the ship. for the Advancement of Science for outdoors, and often went canoeing ‘It was on the ice that he got his their outstanding contributions to in Nordmarka and on the Oslo Fjord. university education,’ says Asbjørn science.

NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION | 11 However, the job at CERN involved too much paperwork for Dahl's liking. He preferred to construct things, and he started building Norway's second reactor in Halden, which was also completed in 1959. During this hectic period, Norway's first astronomy facility was also built. The solar observatory at Harestua was completed in 1954. The mirror and prisms were bought from Germany, but Odd Dahl designed the obser- vatory and was also involved in its assembly and calibration. The solar observatory was extremely important for the Institute of Theoretical Astro- physics at the University of Oslo until the mid 1980s.

multi-talent Odd Dahl died in Bergen in 1994, almost 96 years old. A Norwegian Da Vinci who could also build model During his period at the Carnegie Institute, Dahl also got to satisfy his wanderlust. boats and paint. He received the Nor- Together with his American wife Vesse, he took a year's leave and set off to do field studies wegian Engineer Association's first in geomagnetics in the Middle East, Persia and India. Photo: CMR special award, became the first honor- ary doctor of the University of Bergen They built machines such as a Tesla After the war, Dahl began working and was appointed Commander of the transformer and two Van de Graaff with Gunnar Randers, who was Nor- Order of St Olav and the Dutch Order generators that were used to study way's leading nuclear physicist at that of Orange-Nassau. atomic nuclei. This was an important time. Together with the astrophysicist The former Minister of Defence and time for Dahl and the Institute, since Svein Rosseland, they began to form wartime resistance leader Jens Chris- it marked the start of research into the idea of a nuclear reactor for Nor- tian Hauge described him as follows in nuclear physics in the USA. way. the film ‘Dr Odd Dahl – practical and Odd Dahl's achievements did not Dahl worked hard on the drawings theoretical genius’: go unnoticed at home. H. U. Sverdrup for the reactor. It became a reality, ‘He could design and construct had been associated with the Chris- and by 30 July 1951 it had been built at complicated technical scientific tian Michelsen Institute in Bergen Kjeller. It was the sixth reactor to be equipment for the most advanced since 1931, and he wanted Dahl to built in the world, and the first to be research. He did it with apparent ease come back to Norway. In 1935, Dahl built by a nation that was not one of and astonishing assurance. Whatever was offered and accepted a position the superpowers. he made always worked.' as laboratory engineer. On the morning of 18 August 1962, cern he kept a close eye on Ferdinand 1 and medical equipment When Europe wanted to catch up with the launch ramp he had built to see Dahl's experience with nuclear phys- the USA's head-start in nuclear phys- what its fate would be. With horn- ics was to come in very handy. With ics, work began on establishing what rimmed glasses on his nose and the funds from the Red Cross, he designed would become CERN (Conseil Européen habitual cigar in his mouth, he saw and constructed a high voltage facil- pour la Recherche Nucléaire). Odd Dahl that it also worked as planned. ity for radiation treatment at Hauke- was extremely active in the pre- land Hospital. During the 1940s, he paratory work, the foundation of the sources: also built a betatron for radiation organization in 1954, and in CERN's Asbjørn Søreide therapy for Haukeland, and a Van de operations in its early years. He also ‘Dr Odd Dahl – practical and Graaff accelerator for nuclear physics built CERN's first large proton syn- theoretical genius’ – produced by research for the Geophysical Institute chrotron (particle accelerator) which Christian Michelsen Research at the University of Bergen. was put into operation in 1959. Store Norske Leksikon (encyclopaedia)

12 | NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION The European road to space

In the nick of time, Norway managed to get on to what The study concluded that remote sensing using satellites would be would become the European train to space: ESA. extremely useful to Norway, since sat- ellites can perform measurements in By Berit Ellingsen remote areas quickly and frequently. One of the persons involved in the As early as the 1960s, the European Norway should keep well away from work on the official report was Terje countries had begun to work together prestigious but expensive projects Wahl. He is now Director of the Nor- on space research and space travel. like manned space travel. Any space- wegian Space Centre's Research and One of their aims was to develop a related work should be of clear benefit Earth Observation Department. European launcher, so that they would to society as a whole. In the early 1980s, Wahl was work- have their own access to space. ‘Lied was also worried that Norway ing on remote sensing and marine This led to the founding of two would lose the few aerospace engineers monitoring at the Norwegian Defence European space organizations, the that we had to Europe if we joined Research Establishment, FFI. European Space Research Organisation ESRO and ELDO,’ says civil engineer ‘It was clear right from the start that (ESRO) and the European Launcher and space travel expert Erik Tandberg. Norway would benefit greatly from Development Organisation (ELDO). satellites in a polar orbit, which would Norwegian researchers were keen to great benefit of remote sensing enable it to keep an eye on its long join these organizations, but the com- In 1975, the two European space organ- coastline, natural resources, national mittee for space research, under the izations merged to form the European interests and oil spills,’ says Wahl. Royal Norwegian Council for Scientific Space Agency (ESA). The desire to join and Industrial Research (NTNF), which was rekindled in Norway. tempted by radar satellite was charged with assessing the value So in the early 1980s, the govern- norway into space of joining the Europeans in their space ment started a public study into how Norway became an associate member work, said no. Norway would benefit from remote of ESA in 1981. Based on the favour- This was before Norway became sensing using satellites (Norwegian able study on remote sensing, it was a rich oil nation. Finn Lied, who Official Report NOU 1983-24). This decided that Norway should apply for chaired the committee, believed that work was also headed by Finn Lied. full membership. It was the possibility

NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION | 13 of being a party to the development of Facts about ESA the ERS-1 radar satellite that was par- ticularly tempting. • The European Space Agency (ESA) was established in 1975. This satellite would be placed in a • In 2012, ESA has 18 member countries: Austria, Belgium, the Czech polar orbit and, being a radar satellite, Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, it would be able to perform measure- Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, ments through layers of cloud and in Switzerland and United Kingdom,. Canada is an associate member. the darkness of winter. This meant that • ESA works closely with the space organizations in its member coun- the satellite would provide solid cover- tries, with NASA, the Japanese space agency JAXA and the Russian age of Norway's coast and marine areas. ROSKOSMOS. ERS-1 was also a good opportunity • ESA's biggest space projects include Columbus (the European labora- tory on the international space station), ATV (the automated space for the researchers and Norwegian vehicle that supplies the space station) and Huygens (the space probe industry to access the international that landed on Titan, Saturn's biggest moon, in 2005). market and create some positive rip- • ESA has three types of launchers at its disposal: Ariane 5, Soyuz and ple effects. Vega. They are launched from the European space centre at Kourou in Full membership of ESA would thus be French Guiana in Central America. useful, not only for the people of Norway, • ESA's space probes are in orbit around Venus and Mars, and in the but also for its industry and research Earth's magnetic field. They are looking back at the earliest days of the communities. On the basis of these three universe and at the oldest galaxies; they are used to study comets, pivotal arguments, Norway decided to search for life on Mars, study Mercury and find new planets outside our apply for full membership of ESA. own solar system.

part of the esa's remote sensing programme ‘We knew that ESA would send out on until the last carriage,' says Strøm. Norway was an associate member of an open invitation to submit proposals There were some assignments that ESA's remote sensing programme. for industrial solutions and research would have been perfect for Norway, In 1984, a Proposition to the Norwe- projects for ERS-1, and we wanted to but that we missed out on because we gian Parliament recommended that be part of that,’ says Strøm. were not a full member. Norway become a full member of the By the end, Norway's involvement Norway is now a fully integrated programme. Once again, it was the in the programme comprised seven member of ESA, and our investments opportunities presented by the ERS-1 different validation experiments, all in space work have paid off many radar satellite that tempted. of which were approved by the ESA times over, in the form of positive Guro Dahle Strøm, section manager remote sensing programme. industrial spin-offs and useful meas- for national programmes for Earth The huge interest in ERS-1 resulted urements. observation at the Norwegian Space Cen- in Norway gaining full membership of tre, was involved in writing the proposi- the ESA remote sensing programme earth observation in the future tion. She was working on optical satel- in 1984, three years before Norway Norway has always been very lites in NTNF's Space Activitiy Division. became a full member of the space advanced in the fields of remote sens- ‘We put in some long hours at the agency itself. It also meant that Nor- ing and Earth observation. Ministry of Industry to get that docu- wegian researchers were among the ‘The focus on user development ment ready,’ says Strøm. But the value of first to receive data from the satellite and operational services has been the remote sensing by satellite, particularly a after its launch in 1991. backbone of our national programme radar satellite like ERS-1, was very clear.’ for 25 years, but Europe has only been finally, full esa membership involved in this for the past five or six norway coordinates its space In 1987, Norway finally became a full years,’ says Strøm. personnel member of ESA. The Norwegian Space Now that Europe is building After the Proposition to the Norwe- Centre was established in 1987 in order operational satellites, it will become gian Parliament recommended that to ensure that Norway's interests were extremely important. However, Strøm Norway apply for full membership of represented in the space agency. believes that the enormous quantities the ESA remote sensing programme, Tandberg, Wahl and Strøm all agree of data that these satellites will gener- NTNF's Space Activitiy Division that Norway's full membership was ate will place even greater demands began to coordinate people who were not before time. on the Earth observation programmes, involved in space research and the ‘It felt a little like jumping onto a and that we should be prepared for space industry. moving train, and not managing to get this.

14 | NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION Finn Lied

‘...the affiliation with ESA represents something new for Norwegian research and business development. ESA is one of Europe's technological locomotives, and the only one with Norway on board. Norway must now give its all, whatever the consequences might be’. NOU Report No 1, 1986.

Finn Lied, chair of the committee, former Minister of Industry and Director of the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment. Photo: Trude Eng The space industry: Innovative and traditional

A small group of highly specialized companies in ‘Obviously, price and quality are decisive for our choice of suppliers Norway is part of the global space industry. for our satellites, but if Norwegian companies can provide the quality we By Berit Ellingsen need, we prefer to use Norwegian sup- pliers,’ says Kjersti Hamborgstrøm, Space is not just space research and have an annual turnover of approxi- Director of Spectrum Management space travel. It is also a global industry mately NOK 6 billion a year. in Telenor Satellite Broadcasting AS, in which major international corpora- Telecommunications, i.e. satel- and head of the Norwegian Industrial tions employ ten thousands of people. lite telephony, TV, radio and internet Forum for Space Activities (NIFRO). Every year, they supply technology and transmission, is the Norwegian space A high-cost country like Norway services worth billions of kroner (NOK). industry's biggest field. Telenor Satel- cannot compete with low-cost coun- The competition is keen, and the lite Broadcasting AS has about 160 tries like China and India in manufac- market is a hard one for new compa- employees. turing components, but when it comes nies to break into. The space industry Telenor, or Televerket as it used to be to high technology and specialized only uses what it knows is safe and called, began attempts at communica- skills, engineers in Norway are no strong, things that will work year after tion and broadcasting via satellite to more expensive than engineers else- year in the demanding environment Svalbard and the North Sea as early as where in the world. It is in fields like of space. the 1970s. It acquired Thor I, its first these that Norway is able to compete Norway's contributions to the space satellite, in 1992. It was already in orbit in the space industry. industry are the best in the field, when Televerket bought it. Thor II was driven by enthusiasm and interest in the first to be built to order and was ground-based stations, satellite data space. launched in 1997. Telenor is currently and high technology The Norwegian space industry cur- among the world's five biggest suppli- Another major space company in Nor- rently consists of about 40 companies, ers of satellite communication services. way is Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace. large and small, in various locations Norway is also a world leader in marine Through its subsidiaries Kongsberg across the country. They develop and satellite communication services. Satellite Services and Kongsberg Space­ produce everything from terminals for Very early on, Telenor began using tec, the company provides some of the satellite communication to flowerpots Norwegian subcontractors for its sat- most advanced services in the fields of for plant research in space, and sell ellite services. Kongsberg Norspace, ground stations and satellite data. their services from Antarctica in the among others, will supply technology Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace south to Svalbard in the north. They for Telenor's new satellite, Thor 7. currently operates a worldwide

16 | NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION Thor II, Telenor's second satellite, was launched on an American Delta rocket in 1997. Photo: Telenor Satellite Broadcasting Norwegian AV Satcom supplies technology such as advanced telemetry systems. These can be used in sparsely populated areas. Photo: AV Satcom

network of satellite ground stations, rescue transponders to 14 of the satel- been on board the Swedish Prisma including stations in Svalbard and in lites in the European Galileo naviga- nano-satellite. Antarctica. The company also supplies tion system. This contract is worth Presens mainly supplies pressure high technology to agencies such as around NOK 170 million. sensors for the oil and gas industry. It NASA and ESA. is in this market that the company has Kongsberg Spacetec will supply pressure sensors and perfected the technology that is now technology for the ground-based logistics systems being sent into space. There are many systems for Sentinel 1, 2 and 3, Europe's Presens at Ullern is a small company similarities between the demands of new fleet of satellites that will be used with 40 employees and a hive-off from the offshore industry and the space to monitor the climate, environment, SINTEF. Presens supplies pressure industry. The equipment must be capa- natural resources and security. sensors for satellites and space probes. ble of withstanding extreme conditions In 2011, Kongsberg Defence & Aero- The pressure sensors are small and and be accurate and maintenance-free, space bought the company Norspace light, stable and robust, and have fast because there is no room for mistakes in Horten (Norspace is a continua- response times. This is a big advantage neither offshore nor in space. tion of the former AME Space and in relation to work in space. Several Norwegian companies Alcatel Space Norway). Kongsberg Presens has supplied pressure have developed technology or services Norspace currently has 95 employees sensors to satellites such as ESA's originally intended for offshore use and supplies high-tech components new weather satellite ADM-Aeolus. and adapted them for use in space. and equipment to the international As well as providing us with better For example, until the end of 2012, the space industry. Kongsberg Norspace weather forecasts, this weather logistics system used to maintain the participates in several international satellite will help to increase our European space laboratory Columbus space programmes, and the company's understanding of the atmosphere's on the international space station is equipment can be found on board dynamics and climate processes. The supplied and operated by Marintek in more than 150 satellites from all over Presens sensors are integrated in a Trondheim. the world. system that keeps the laser in the When something breaks down Among other things, it will supply satellite's main instrument clean. The on the space station, it can take up frequency generators and search and Norwegian pressure sensors have also to six months for a spare part to be

18 | NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION Small rocket motors from Nammo at Project Manager Kjell Paulsen of Kongsberg D&A assembling parts that will be sent into Raufoss are used to push the huge boosters space. Photo: KDA away from the main rocket on the European Ariane 5 carrier rocket. Photo: Nammo delivered, assuming that a spare part The company Gamma Medica distant exploding stars, and the Euro- exists at all. That's why supplying Ideas employs 12 people in its prem- pean-Japanese Bepi Colombo space spare parts and accurately analysing ises at Fornebu. They have developed probe that will be studying Mercury, the need for maintenance, i.e. assess- technology from the company's pre- the innermost planet of the solar sys- ing which critical parts are most likely clinical imaging systems and mam- tem. to fail, is such an important part of the mography equipment for use in space. work of supplying the space station. Conversely, their medical technology the space industry yields a good return Marintek's special skills in main- also uses sensors designed for space. Data from Norwegian companies that tenance procedures, analyses and This interaction pushes development have received support in order to supplying spare parts were developed forward in both fields. develop goods and services for space- for offshore and shipping. From there, Gamma Medica Ideas has supplied related activities show that there have the road to space wasn't all that long. technology for several space probes been major industrial ripple effects. Neither North Sea workers nor astro- and satellites, including the ultra- Every krone's worth of contracts nauts can pop out to the shops to buy sensitive AMS-02 particle detector. awarded to Norwegian companies by a new part when something breaks This hyper-advanced space labora- the Norwegian Space Centre and ESA offshore or in space. tory is searching for antimatter and has generated an average of NOK 4.8 ‘I think we will be seeing more and dark matter in cosmic radiation from worth of business for the space indus- more technology that was originally space, and the hope is that this may try and other industries. designed to be used offshore being give us answers to some of the most Hamborgstrøm is therefore hop- developed and adapted for use in fundamental mysteries in physics and ing that the authorities will promote space,' says Hamborgstrøm. However, the universe. research and development, and invest interaction between the offshore and Gamma Medica Ideas’ electronic in companies so that Norwegian space industries can also go the other circuits amplify the signal from cos- industry will be able to compete for way. Technology designed for space mic radiation, and are important tools space-related projects on equal terms can be developed and adapted for life in separating matter from antimatter. with other European industry. offshore or on dry land. There are 1,500 of these circuits in the ‘Because we are small, we need space observatory. help to get into space projects, and we from the mysteries of space to Gamma Medica Ideas has also sup- need development support if we are cancerous tumours plied technology to the ASIM gamma to compete on equal terms with other It is not only technology from the off- radiation detector on the space sta- tenderers offering similar equip- shore industry that can be developed tion, the SWIFT satellite, which is ment’, concludes Hamborgstrøm. for use in space. searching for gamma ray bursts from

NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION | 19 P h oto : ESA/NASA

Earth watchers

Earth watchers The ground is not the best place from which to observe the Earth and our irreplaceable climate and environment. Hundreds of satellites are monitoring our planet for us.

By Berit Ellingsen

Earth watchers

Earth watchers Space is useful, not just for increasing Satellites can work in orbit for our knowledge of the universe, solar many years. Researchers are now system and the other planets, but also beginning to get access to data series for learning more about our own planet. covering several decades. These are The Earth's environment and climate absolutely essential if we are to find are governed by major geophysical, out how the climate and environment chemical and biological systems. These is changing over time. systems can be divided into various Earth observation satellites are subsystems. The geosphere includes invaluable when disasters strike. all geologic activity, volcanoes, plate Under the International Charter on tectonics and earthquakes. The hydro- Space and Major Disasters any country sphere includes all the liquid water on that needs satellite data following dis- Earth, in the oceans, rivers and lakes. asters such as earthquakes, floods or The cryosphere is the ice trapped at the droughts can have fast and free access poles, in glaciers and permafrost. to such data. The charter is activated The biosphere includes all life, several times every year. including microorganisms, plants and animals. The atmosphere is the thin climate, environment and societal film of gases that separates us from security space. The Earth also has a magnetic The first Earth observation satellites field, the magnetosphere, that pro- were launched in the 1960s. These tects all life against cosmic radiation. were meteorological satellites that These major systems interact and photographed cloud formations and influence each other. weather systems. They made weather The climate and the various envi- forecasting much more accurate than ronments on Earth are changing, it had been. and there is much we still don't know Then came radar satellites that about how they will react to these could see through cloud cover, measure changes. That is why many space wind speeds and sea levels, and spot activities and much of space research ships, oil spills, ice and icebergs at sea. is focused on the Earth's major sys- These Earth observation satellites tems, climate and environment. This are particularly important for Norway, is called Earth observation. as they enable us to send out wind and weather warnings for our extensive easiest to do it from space offshore regions, and control borders Surprisingly, it's actually easiest to and fishery resources. Norway's own observe the Earth from space, using satellite, AISSat-1, is a satellite that satellites. This is because satellites monitors marine traffic. orbit the Earth several times a day, and can obtain data about vast areas future earth observation satellites in just a few hours. Earth observation satellites can only Some of the Earth's most important become even more important in the systems and environments, like the future, allowing us to monitor the Earth's ice at the poles and the major ocean climate, environment and resources. currents, are in remote, inhospitable The European Space Agency, ESA, has Over the next few years, these will areas. But satellites can ‘see’ these a series of Earth observation satellites be joined by three new Earth Explor- areas quickly and easily from space. that monitor the environment and cli- ers: SWARM, which will study the Inhospitable, remote areas tend to mate. These are called Earth Explorers. Earth's magnetic field, ADM-Aeolus, have a lot of bad weather and climates Three of these are already fully which will measure the winds in the that are challenging for both people operational: CryoSat, which measures atmosphere, and EarthCARE, which and equipment. That's another good the surface area and thickness of ice in will study the influence of cloud cover reason for using satellites. Many of the polar regions, GOCE, which meas- and aerosols on global warming. them can carry out measurements ures gravity fields, and SMOS, which The European countries are work- regardless of the weather, light condi- studies sea-surface salinity and soil ing together on Earth observation, cli- tions and season. moisture on land. mate research and societal security in

22 | NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION Norway celebrates 50 years as a space nation – magazine 23 | research

space

and

The knowledge we have . The knowledge we have observation

For example, Venus has an atmos- example, Venus For NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION SPACE A AS YEARS 50 CELEBRATES NORWAY gained about major systems on the earth Earth observation can also be used for space research. The major systems on Earth are governed by the same physi- as on other planets. cal laws phere with a greenhouse effect and biggest Saturn's lightning. Titan, moon, has a cycle of methane instead of water : ESA oto Ph The first Sentinel satellites will be area and vegetation, and long-range area and vegetation, and long-range transboundary pollution, warn of and greenhouse radiation ultraviolet gases, and provide services to alleviate the effects of disasters, support border controls and the fight against interna- tional crime and terrorism. of launched in 2013. A new generation meteorological satellites is also in the pipeline. These satellites are known as the Sentinel series, and will monitor fac- tors such as soil, water and air qual- oil pollution, the environment in ity, the polar regions, changes in surface - (Global Moni the GMES programme toring for Environment and Security). Over the next few years, GMES will launch a fleet of Earth observation satellites that will provide permanent operational services. The satellite image shows an algal bloom in the sea off the coast of Northern Norway. Norway. The satellite image shows an algal bloom in the sea off the coast of Northern The final touches are put to the GOCE gravity field satellite before it is launched.P hoto: ESA

Earth has also given us information Norwegian researchers have a par- left in the polar regions, and how about how the major systems work ticularly high profile in ESA's Earth quickly it is disappearing. elsewhere in space. observation programmes for marine Several Norwegian research insti- and polar research. tutes, including the Nansen Center in norway and earth observation Bergen and the Norwegian Polar Insti- Like many other countries, Norway cryosat tute, will use the data from CryoSat in is now using Earth observation satel- Knowledge of the polar regions is their work on ice and the climate. lites more and more. Between 2007 an essential piece in the puzzle of and 2010, the number of Norwegian understanding what happens when goce researchers and research institutes climate change occurs at the global The super-advanced GOCE satellite using Earth observation satellites level. The Earth observation satellite (Gravity field and steady-state Ocean increased by more than 55%. CryoSat is an important part of this Circulation Explorer) measures the And more and more public ser- work. The ice satellite was launched Earth's gravity field with extreme vices, organizations and companies in in 2010. accuracy. It was launched in 2009. Norway, from sectors such as fisher- CryoSat measures the thickness of Knowledge about the Earth's ies, the oil and gas industry, tourism, land and sea ice in the Arctic and Ant- gravity field is essential if we are to power and transport, have discovered arctic. Combined with what we know be able to measure heights exactly. how useful the data provided by Earth about the extent of the ice, these data We need these measurements when observation satellites can be. will reveal how much ice is actually we design roads, buildings and other

24 | NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION CryoSat measures the thickness of land and sea ice in the Arctic and Antarctic. Photo: ESA

structures, and in order to determine soil on land, and salinity at the sur- norwegian areas of application exactly by how much the sea level rises face of the sea. Norway uses data from these satellites every year. This is important, since it enables for many purposes, such as monitor- us to detect droughts, protect vegeta- ing marine traffic, fishery resources, norwegian users tion and agriculture, study how cli- maritime boundaries, detecting oil The Norwegian Mapping Authority mate change affects the major ocean spills from ships or offshore installa- and the Norwegian University of Life currents, and what happens to the tions, and mapping ice and icebergs Sciences are using data from GOCE to oceans when more ice melts and river around Svalbard. map gravity fields and ocean currents runoff increases. The Norwegian CryoClim project is in the High North. The Nansen Center The Nansen Center is involved in developing services for monitoring the in Bergen is involved in several pro- validating and using the data from cryosphere, i.e. the sea ice, snow cover jects that use GOCE's data for oceano- SMOS. The Norwegian Institute for Air and glaciers in Norway and Svalbard. graphic research. Research is studying how information CryoClim will combine data from sev- One of the persons who has been from SMOS can provide a clearer picture eral different optical, meteorological working with GOCE right from the start of soil moisture in Norway and the High and radar satellites, including Radar- is Rune Floberghagen. You can read North. SMOS was launched in 2010. sat-1 and Radarsat-2. more about him and GOCE on page 58. Radarsat-1 and Radarsat-2 are two SMOS (Soil Moisture and Ocean Canadian radar satellites that have Salinity) measures moisture in the been in orbit since 1995 and 2007.

NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION | 25 EIVIND THRANE

‘The establishment of the Andøya Rocket Range was our ticket to becoming a space nation. Without that, we would have been left on the sidelines. The Rocket Range gave us a unique chance to gain essential knowledge about the technology that we would need to move forward.’ Eivind Thrane

Former Head of Research at the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment and Adjunct Professor at the University of Oslo. Photo: Trude Eng P h oto : NASA A place in the sun

The High North is not much warmed by the sun, but Norwegian solar researchers are shining brightly on the international stage.

By Berit Ellingsen P h oto : NASA Pål Brekke, currently Senior Adviser at the Norwegian Space Centre, was SOHO Deputy Project Scientist for six years. Photo: Trude Eng

All life on Earth depends on light and Birkeland that gave rise to such a put together to form a digital image. heat from the sun. Our nearest star strong interest in the sun among Each negative took 24 hours to digitize affects the climate and environment Norwegian researchers. Solar obser- and filled several of the hard disks that of our entire planet. But storms on the vations from space began with Olav were available at the time. sun can emit radiation that is danger- Kjeldseth-Moe. He is currently Profes- Image by image, the Norwegian ous to astronauts and can damage sat- sor Emeritus at the Institute of Theo- solar researchers built up a database ellites and other electronic equipment retical Astrophysics at the University of unique observations of the sun. But in orbit. On the ground, solar storms of Oslo. In the 1970s he worked in the it was only possible to perform about can knock out power grids, causing USA on the solar telescope on board seven minutes of observations with each misery for thousands of people. That the American Skylab space station. sounding rocket that was launched. The is why research into the sun forms an When Kjeldseth-Moe came back to solar researchers obviously wanted to important part of the activities of the Norway, his research group continued have longer observing sequences. When various space organizations. to study the sun, using sounding rock- the space shuttle Challenger was to Norwegian researchers are among ets launched in the USA. carry the HRTS (High Resolution Tele- the best in the world in the field of solar At that time there were no digital scope and Spectrograph) solar telescope research. A recent international assess- cameras, so the photographic films up into space in 1985, the Norwegian ment gave Norwegian researchers top from the sounding rockets had to be researchers seized their chance. marks. For six years, the SOHO Deputy manually digitized before they could Through their contacts in the USA, Project Scientist was from Norway. The be analysed by computer. The solar Kjeldseth-Moe and Professor Oddb- data centre for the Japanese solar satel- researchers built their own instru- jørn Engvold became part of the team lite Hinode is at the University of Oslo. ment, a photometer, especially for this that controlled the solar telescope It was the legacy left by the purpose. It scanned the film negatives on board the space shuttle. The solar northern lights researcher Kristian point by point, and these were then researchers were given a week to make

28 | NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION The data from the Japanese satellite HINODE are stored and processed at Blindern in Oslo. Photo: ESA observations of the sun using photo- Space Centre, built the sensor for the four senior scientists were Norwegian. graphic film. These negatives were camera on SOHO that measures the Hagfors Haugan now heads the data digitized and stored in the database intensity of the sun. centre for the Japanese solar satellite at Blindern. The work meant that the ‘We placed ourselves at the receiv- Hinode at the University of Oslo. Norwegian researchers were world ing end of the scientific data stream When the book of SOHO's first leaders in processing and analysing from the satellite. This gave us easier research results came out, no other data from solar observations. and faster access to the information, country had more contributing and enabled us to present the results authors than Norway. The images the soho solar satellite of our research more quickly,’ says from the solar satellite were spectacu- The Norwegian solar researchers then Pål Brekke. ‘For the first four years, lar and popular. Every month, SOHO's became the experts of choice to advise we also had a man stationed in the website was getting more than 20 mil- on the construction of the European operations centre at the NASA God- lion hits. That traffic has now risen to solar satellite SOHO (Solar and Helio- dard Space Center outside Washington 60 million hits per month. spheric Observatory) in the early 1990s. DC. That meant that if Norwegian ‘With SOHO, we were able to see The Norwegian solar researchers researchers required specific observa- our nearest star with completely new developed a program to analyse data tions, we could have those carried out.’ eyes, and we got almost scarily close from one of SOHO's instruments. The For six years, Brekke was SOHO's to the sun and the violent eruptions Research Council of Norway contrib- Deputy Project Scientist at the com- from its surface. It was impossible not uted NOK 20 million to the project. mand centre in Washington. After two to be fascinated by the violent dynam- Norwegian industry also supplied years, a second Norwegian, Stein Vidar ics and by how the sun is constantly about NOK 80 million worth of tech- Hagfors Haugan, was put in charge affecting our technology-based soci- nology for SOHO. Bo Andersen, the of coordinating SOHO's observations. ety,’ says Brekke. For the first time, current Director of the Norwegian This meant that two of the group's researchers also saw right through the

NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION | 29 Charged particles from storms on the sun create northern lights in the Earth's atmos- SOHO unfolded, as it appears when it phere. Emphasize collage: NASA joins the Earth in orbit around the sun. Illustration: NASA/ESA

sun, and could watch the formation of when space weather forecasts are cables, radar systems, mobile phones giant sunspots on the other side. important and GPS communications could be The sun and the solar wind, the knocked out completely. If that were hinode solar telescope stream of particles constantly released to happen, it would take a long time When the Japanese space agency JAXA by the sun, reach all the way to the and require extensive resources to get thought about building Hinode (Solar furthest edges of the solar system. The everything back on track again. B) at the turn of the millennium, they solar wind causes its own weather in For this reason, the European wanted to get as much data as pos- space. When powerful eruptions occur Space Agency, ESA, wants to establish sible back from the solar satellite. on the sun, this causes solar storms a programme for forecasting weather From Japan, they would only be able to and bad space weather. in space. With its expertise in solar download data from 1 in 15 of the daily Solar storms have caused break- research and the northern lights, satellite orbits. Fortunately, Norway downs in radio communication, navi- Norway wants to be the leading Nordic could change that. gation systems and power failures at country involved in the programme. By using the SvalSat satellite sta- unpredictable intervals over the past At the moment, SOHO is still the tion in Svalbard, the information from 50 years, but there has been noth- satellite that is best able to see into Hinode is now downloaded all of 15 ing to rival the storm that occurred the interior of the sun and warn us of times a day. The data are stored and in September 1859. That was when a solar storms. But SOHO is now so old processed at a dedicated data centre, the monster of a solar storm exploded. A that most of its instruments have been Hinode Science Data Centre at Blindern. violent deluge of charged particles was turned off. So the solar researchers are The researchers who use the data from fired towards the Earth, and 15 hours hoping that ESA's space weather pro- Hinode log on to this data centre. later, the skies lit up in a firework dis- gramme will result in a new satellite ‘Yet again, we made sure that we play of green, red and violet northern that will be able to keep a good eye on were at the front of the data stream, and southern lights across the entire the weather on the sun. where we get the best and fastest scien- planet. The lights were seen as far If that happens, the world's strong- tific benefit from what we have invested south as the Caribbean, Hawaii and est team of solar researchers at the in the solar projects,' says Brekke. Central America. The network of their University of Oslo are a natural choice When Hinode was launched in telegraph lines was knocked out by the to be part of the programme and to 2006, it was one of the most advanced powerful northern lights. work closely with other groups in Nor- solar observation satellites orbiting If a solar storm of that magnitude way that are studying space weather at the Earth. Hinode has taken spectacu- were to occur today, we would be the universities of Bergen, Tromsø and lar close-up images of the sun, and the much harder hit than in 1859. In some in Svalbard. details are fantastic. places, power lines and telegraph

30 | NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION SOHO still in its flat-pack before it was made ready to be launched into space. Photo: ESA The northern lights seen from the space shuttle in orbit. Source: NASA

The Norwegian northern lights pioneers

It was not until the early When the electrically charged par- solved the riddle of the northern ticles in the solar wind hit the Earth's lights. He had a theory that the north- 1990s that researchers protective magnetic field, they are ern lights were caused by charged par- began to understand the deflected down towards the polar ticles from the sun. Birkeland's theory regions. Here they collide with atoms has stood the test of time. northern lights. Norwegian in the Earth's atmosphere, and this In order to prove his theory, the researchers were pioneers in creates luminous bands across the sky. eccentric researcher built a model of This is how the northern lights are the Earth, which he enclosed in a glass this work, and the Norwegian formed. box. Birkeland created a magnetic northern lights research- The solar wind and its interac- field around the model of the Earth tion with the Earth's atmosphere and using electricity, and studied what ers are still among the most magnetic field actually form ‘space happened when he added charged advanced in their field. weather’ around the Earth, which can particles. The charged particles were affect electronic equipment in orbit captured by the small Earth's magnetic By Berit Ellingsen and on the surface of the Earth. field and deflected down towards the Several other planets in the solar areas around the poles, just like real The northern lights have been a famil- system also have magnetic fields, and northern lights. iar sight to cultures all over the world thereby also northern and southern Birkeland also showed that the for centuries, and there have been lights. These include Jupiter, Saturn, process would be identical and would many theories about what the north- Neptune and Uranus. Some of the take place simultaneously at both ern lights are. solar system's bigger moons, such as poles. The Norwegian researcher The sun constantly releases an Io, also have northern lights. also demonstrated the existence of enormous stream of charged particles the solar wind, the Earth's magnetic known as the solar wind. The solar birkeland showed how field and electric currents in the wind reaches as far as to the outer lim- the northern lights are formed upper atmosphere. These currents its of our solar system, and affects all It was the Norwegian researcher Kris- are now known as Birkeland currents. the planets. tian Birkeland (1867–1917) who finally Much of Birkeland's research was not

32 | NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION Southern lights on Sat- The northern and urn, taken by Hubble. southern lights on Jupi- Source: Hubble/NASA ter, taken by the Hubble telescope. Source: Hubble/NASA

The Norwegian northern lights pioneers

confirmed until the space age began, high to be studied with balloons, and 60 years later. too low for satellites, whose orbits are Two other Norwegians were also much higher. The easiest way to study The northern lights among the pioneers of northern lights these layers is with rockets. in the old days research. When Andøya was chosen as the Lars Vegard (1880–1963) was the location of Norway's rocket range in For thousands of years, people have first researcher to identify the colours 1962, it was partly in order to be able wondered about these strange lights in the northern lights and show how to launch sounding rockets directly in the northern skies. Hundreds of sto- the different colours are formed. into the northern lights. ries and theories have tried to explain Carl Størmer (1874–1937) was one of In 2008, a new northern lights them. Birkeland's assistants, and continued observatory opened outside Longyear- People used to be afraid of the lights. where he left off. Størmer worked out byen in Svalbard. Conditions at the Many refused to let their children play outside under the northern lights, for that there is a belt around the Earth in Kjell Henriksen Observatory are per- fear that they would be killed. which charged particles are reflected fect for studying the northern lights The Vikings believed that the north- between the poles. and the physics of the middle and ern lights were reflections of dead Størmer also found out that the upper atmospheres. virgins, and that if you waved, the lights northern lights occur at a height of In 2011, a working group was set would move faster. between 80–130 kilometres. We now up to collaborate with the USA on The Sami called the northern lights know that the northern lights generally northern lights and atmospheric ‘guovssahas’ – the light you can hear. occur at a height of between 80–250 research using rockets. Norway The Eskimos in the far north of Canada kilometres. Occasionally, they can even already has similar partnership believed that the northern lights were get as high as 500–800 kilometres. agreements with the German space created by spirits celebrating because agency, DRL, and the Japanese space the sun was away. These spirits were playing football with walrus skulls, and launching rockets into agency, JAXA. Norway also participates the Eskimos called this game the dance the northern lights in the ESA Space Situational of death. The layers in the atmosphere in which Awareness programme. the northern lights are formed are too

NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION | 33 in Laser the night

Lasers from the ALOMAR atmosphere observatory at Andøya. Photo: Andøya Rocket Range

It isn't only rockets that are launched into the skies from Earth's magnetic field and the northern lights. Ground-based measurements Andøya. From a height of 379 metres on the mountain of are also taken from ALOMAR, which Ramnan on Andøya, emerald green laser beams light up the are essential for launches from the Andøya Rocket Range. The data from Arctic night sky. They come from the ALOMAR atmosphere Andøya are sometimes used to validate observatory, or Arctic Lidar Observatory for Middle Atmos- measurements from satellites. Since the atmosphere observa- phere Research. tory is part of the teaching facility at Andøya Rocket Range, it receives visits By Berit Ellingsen every year from students, schoolchil- In the octagonal building, researchers The observatory has six different dren and teachers from all over the study the Earth's atmosphere and the lidars, which are lasers that measure world. physical and chemical processes that the distance and speed of particles and Eight research institutions in Nor- take place there, from ground level up gases. The instruments at ALOMAR can way and internationally have instru- to the uppermost atmospheric layers. take simultaneous vertical and hori- ments at ALOMAR, and help to run They are studying things like green- zontal atmospheric measurements. it. The observatory was finished in house gases, aerosols, clouds, ultravio- As well as the atmosphere, the 1994 and is owned by Andøya Rocket let radiation, the ozone layer and other researchers are also studying the iono- Range. factors that can affect the atmosphere, sphere (which is the layer of charged climate and environment. particles in the upper atmosphere), the

34 | NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION ASBJØRN SØREIDE

‘Our multidisciplinary groups were part of an international research community, in which love of the projects and improvisation meant everything. We used whatever we could, and received good help from the locals – like the blacksmith in Bleik.’ Asbjørn Søreide

Former Departmental Engineer at the Christian Michelsen Institute, and close colleague of Odd Dahl. Photo: Trude Eng Students celebrating at the European Space Camp on Andøya, an international gathering for students interested in space. Photo: NAROM

Young rocket scientists on Andøya

Every year, schoolchildren, students who share their interest. the south, are involved in the recruit- Professors and space experts also hold ment programme Physics in Focus. In students and teachers come lectures during the week of the camp. this programme, every student who to Andøya Rocket Range. The finalists in CanSat, a competi- has chosen physics gets to come to tion in which upper secondary school Andøya and gain practical experience They get to use the unique students build satellites no bigger than in the subject's potential applications. laboratory and instruments, a drinks can, also get an opportunity All this started in the 1990s. At to launch their satellites from Andøya. that time, Norwegian universities and be aerospace scientists In the student rocket project and the and colleges wanted to start using the for a few days. national student satellite programme, unique space infrastructure at Andøya students at Norwegian universities and to encourage more students to study By Berit Ellingsen colleges get to launch their own rockets science subjects. Until then, the labo- and satellites. In addition, courses are ratories and instruments of the rocket European Space Camp is a gathering held for teachers interested in science range were reserved for researchers, for upper secondary schools students subjects from the entire Nordic region, and were unused for parts of the year. from all over the world with an not only on Andøya but also in other ‘Research shows that space is some- interest in space. The camp is held at parts of the country, through special thing that children and young people Andøya Rocket Range every summer. further education programmes for are extremely curious about, and that's Here, students get to build their own teachers at primary, lower and upper something that it's important for us to rocket and the instruments that go secondary schools. use in recruiting them to the science on board it. They are then involved in A stay at the rocket range is subjects,' says Arne Hjalmar Hansen, launching the rocket and analysing intended to spark people's interest and head of NAROM, the Norwegian Centre the data, like real aerospace scientists. inspire them to take science subjects for Space-related Education. The camp gives them practical and specialize in space research. A ‘It's also an exciting way of dem- experience in space work, and not total of 13 upper secondary schools, onstrating some of the applications of least, the chance to meet other from Troms in the north to Akershus in the science subjects.’

36 | NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION Leading the in satellite world communications

Transmissions of TV, radio, internet and telephony are some of space's most commercial activities, and competition is fierce. Norwegian companies are some of the world's most advanced.

By Berit Ellingsen

Norwegians are experts in satellite communications at sea. Here is an installation of the SEVSAT system from ShipEquip in Ålesund, installed on the UECC ship 'Autosun'. Photo: ShipEquip Telenor's teleport in Nittedal communicates with satellites for radio, TV, telephony and data. It is the biggest Earth sta- tion in the Nordic region and has over 50 antennas. Photo: Telenor Satellite Broadcasting

Without satellites for TV, radio, tel- ephone and internet transmission, our society would have looked quite different. A single communications satellite can transmit several hun- dred TV and radio channels and huge quantities of data. It also covers a large area and can potentially reach mil- lions of people. Satellite communication is there- fore one of the most commercial activ- ities that takes place in space. World- wide, companies compete fiercely to deliver the best and most profitable services and technology within this field. Norwegian companies are doing well in this competition.

worth more than its weight in gold The total cost of building and launch- ing a communications satellite is stag- geringly high. A company that wants to have its own satellite needs to have an iron will to invest and a firm faith in the longevity of the market. 'A communications satellite may easily weigh several tonnes, but can be worth more than its weight in gold,' says Rune Sandbakken, head of satel- lite communications at the Norwegian Space Centre. The reason why satellites cost so much is that there are many work- intensive tasks involved in integrating and testing them. Launching is also extremely expensive. But once a sat- almost 700 TV channels from '1 Degree Ten years later the broadcasting ellite is safely in orbit it can work in West', as the satellite position in geo- satellite Tele-X was launched. It trans- space for up to 15 years and earn many stationary orbit is called. mitted TV and radio signals for the times its own value. Broadcasting to the North Sea and Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation Svalbard began in the 1970s. Telenor, to the North Sea and Svalbard and was began by broadcasting to or Televerket as it was called at that a collaborative project between Nor- the north sea and svalbard time, was quick to see the value of way and Sweden. In 1992 Televerket Telenor is one of the world's biggest satellites and made the first test trans- bought its first satellite. It was named providers of satellite broadcasting ser- missions using a communications sat- Thor 1 and broadcast TV and radio to vices. In 2011 it sold satellite services ellite to Svalbard. In 1979 a permanent Northern Europe for 11 years. Telenor for more than NOK 1 billion and was satellite station was established at also rented capacity on other satel- responsible for the transmission of Isfjord Radio in Svalbard. lites.

38 | NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION 'In the 1990s the market for from Cape Canaveral in Florida in Telenor also established a Nor- satellite communications and 1997. Thor 2 had greater capacity than wegian operating organization and satellite broadcasting grew strongly, Thor 1 and covered both Northern and infrastructure for its satellites, instead and Telenor saw the possibility of Central Europe. of using foreign expertise. But nearly procuring its own satellite, built up Even before Thor 2 was launched ten years were to elapse before its next from scratch and to a specification into orbit, Telenor understood that it satellite was launched. that would meet its own needs,' says needed a further satellite to cover the Within 12 to 15 years of arriving Sandbakken. telecommunications market, which in orbit the fuel needed to control Telenor ordered a satellite and was continuing to grow rapidly. The the satellite is used up and it is time launch from the US firm that later next satellite, Thor 3, was built and to procure a new one. So Thor 5 was became Boeing. The satellite was launched in the record time of under launched in February 2008. The most named Thor 2 and was launched 12 months. recent addition to Telenor's satellite

NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION | 39 The coverage area of Thor-6 in Scandinavia. Illustration: Telenor Satellite Broadcasting

fleet is Thor 6, which transmits the of global mobile communications ser- For example, the whole research first 3D TV channel in Norway among vices via the Inmarsat satellite system. and development department of the other things. But then, in 2007, Telenor Satellite international group STM is located in Services was acquired by a French Lysaker. STM Norway was established razor sharp international company and re-named Vizada. It is on the basis of NERA Satcom's devel- competition now owned by the aerospace company opment of terminals for satellite com- Telenor Satellite Services, Telenor's EADS Astrium. munication. Each year, STM supplies satellite communications division, Another Norwegian company, between 12,000 and 15,000 of these also developed other communications Ship Equip in Ålesund, grew large by terminals. services in addition to broadcasting. offering satellite communications for The expertise in NERA Satcom has It became the world's largest supplier ships. It was taken over by Inmarsat, also been passed on to other com- but still operates in Ålesund, as well as panies such as Jotron Satcom, which Singapore and Houston. makes directional antennas for mari- 'Norwegian companies have also time satellite communications (now a developed top-level expertise at an part of Jotron) and Kongsberg Defence international level in equipment for Communications. The Norwegian ground stations and other technology firm Kongsberg Norspace has been for communications satellites,' says developing technology for research Sandbakken. satellites for a long time. After sup- NERA Satcom began making anten- plying technology for many years, the nas and terminals for satellite com- firm succeeded in breaking into the munications. It was among the front conservative market for technology for runners in its field and at its peak the commercial satellites. Kongsberg Nor- company had offices in 26 countries. space has now delivered components 'The firm was bought by foreigners for more than 150 satellites built all and the Norwegian activity was closed over the world. The firm has also won down, but the knowledge and expe- a contract to deliver technology worth rience built up in Norway provided more than NOK 170 million for the A mobile transmitter station such as this may often be seen at special gatherings or the seed corn for many smaller busi- satellites in Europe's new navigation events. Photo: ESA nesses,' says Sandbakken. system, Galileo.

40 | NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION Nick Knudzon

'The first time I heard about satellite communications was in Washington in October 1958. At that time space activity was met with scepticism because it was expensive without seeming to yield results.' Nic Knudtzon

Former Director of research at Televerket's research institute. Photo: Trude Eng One of the satellites in the European navigation system Galileo. Illustration: ESA

Vital satellite navigation

Finding the right route is important in transport, trade and distress signal that the rescue coordina- tion centre received from the fishing communications. Satellites help us with this important boat. Three of the crew did not make it, navigation. Sometimes it is a matter of life and death. but one was found alive in the sea. Every year the Joint Rescue Coor- dination Centres in Norway detect By Berit Ellingsen On Wednesday 25 January 2012, the around 1,200 distress signals from Joint Rescue Coordination Centre emergency radio beacons in Norwegian received an SOS from the Icelandic and international waters. In addition, fishing boat 'Hallgrimur'. The boat was the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre around 270 km Northwest of Stad, in at Sola receives about 400 alarms via a storm gusting hurricane force. The the Inmarsat satellite system. boat's emergency position indicating 'Most of the alarms we detect are radio beacon was of a type that activates accidental, but we check all requests on contact with water. It was the only we receive,' says Stein Solberg, SAR

42 | NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION Facts about Galileo

• Galileo is a European satellite navigation system that will indicate exact position and time. There will be myriad applications, not just restricted to transport and traffic. • Galileo will give Europe its own independent satellite navigation system that can be used in conjunction with other satellite navigation systems. • Using Galileo and GPS together, accuracy will improve from 5-20 metres to 1-3 metres. Galileo will also provide better signal coverage and better availability than GPS on its own. • The Galileo satellites are being developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) but will be operated by the EU. • When Galileo is fully completed, it will consist of around 30 satellites and have ground stations throughout the world, including on Jan Mayen, in Svalbard and in the Antarctic. • Galileo will be very important for Norway in many areas, but particularly for the fisheries, maritime transport, resource management, mapping and charting, and building and construction. • Norway is a partner in Galileo. Norwegian firms have had many contracts for the supply of technology and ground stations to Galileo. • Galileo is one of the EU's largest- Vital ever industrial projects and includes enterprises and companies from all over Europe. • The first satellites in the Galileo system, the test satellites Giove-A and Giove-B, were launched in 2005 and 2008, satellite navigation respectively.

Coordinator in the Joint Rescue Beacons) are also found and these are locate distress signals with complete Coordination Centre at Sola. carried on the person. accuracy. This also applies to the satel- All commercial vessels and aircraft 'The modern emergency radio bea- lites in the new European navigation have an emergency position indicat- cons, and other satellite communica- system, Galileo. ing radio beacon on board. The most tions, make it much easier for us to find The Galileo satellites will include modern beacons have a GPS receiver the position of people in distress, and to what is known as a return link, which and send their position by satellite to establish contact with them to make the makes it possible to communicate ground stations ashore. Some bea- rescue work more effective,' says Solberg. electronically with the emergency cons activate automatically on contact The emergency position indicat- radio beacons and get more informa- with water, as in a shipwreck. Older ing radio beacons of the future will tion about the status of the vessel or emergency radio beacons normally provide even better information person in need of help. send an analog signal, from which about those in need of help and even The link can also send a message satellites and ground stations can find more accurate positions. The next back to the emergency beacon saying an approximate position. Small emer- generation of navigation satellites will that the message has been received gency radio beacons (Personal Locator include receivers, so that they can and that help is on its way.

NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION | 43 The satellites in the European navi- gation system Galileo. Illustration: ESA

Satellites play an important role in rescue operations at sea. The oil and gas industry is just one of many Photo: Terje Olsen / 330-skvadronen / SCANPIX sectors that depend on exact positioning using navigation satellites. Photo: Statoil/Anette Westgard

need good communications quicker and easier to get especially important for maritime and tracking help in future and offshore activities Other types of satellite are also In future all vessels may be able to Like most other countries, Norway involved in saving lives. Satellite com- communicate with the rescue coor- uses satellite navigation for trans- munication with ships in distress dination centre, like computers in a port and trade. Satellite navigation make rescue operations significantly network. In any case, Solberg believes is especially important in relation to easier. Emergency procedures are that new navigation satellites and maritime activities, which are very often not started on board until it is the next generation of distress signal extensive in Norway. Far out at sea and too late, but when the rescue coordi- systems will make it even easier and in Polar areas there are no other land- nation centre makes contact, it can quicker to get help. marks for navigation and positioning give advice about what must be done 'If future systems for sending dis- and this makes satellite navigation before help arrives. tress signals are well integrated into especially important. The rescue coordination centre the communications systems that we The oil and gas industry was quick also uses systems that track ship use in our day-to-day work, so that to start using satellite navigation in movements, such as AISSat-1, to find they are easy and intuitive to use in the North Sea. Positioning became out which ships are in the area from an emergency, we shall have cleared even more exact using corrections where the distress signal has come. another hurdle on the way to quicker from reference stations in known 'We then ask these ships to go and and more effective help,' says Solberg. positions. Norway started to use such assist. This is a regular occurrence In 2011, the Joint Rescue Coordina- differential GPSs early on. because, at sea, other ships in the area tion Centre at Sola was awarded a prize The oil and gas companies map are the nearest source of help,' says for its pioneering work in the field of and monitor the sea floor and the Solberg. rescue. The prize was presented by the resources that lie beneath it. All such International Maritime Organization, activity requires accurate positioning the UN's organization for safety at sea. from navigation satellites.

44 | NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION As activity increases in the High North the need for good satellite navigation coverage will increase. This is the drilling rig 'Aker Barents' in the Barents Sea. Photo: Statoil / Harald Pettersen

Satellite navigation is also used in systems for planes and helicopters, use of satellites is especially valuable for other offshore operations, for example will be able to use both GPS and Gali- Norway. Among other uses, we employ when drilling, when large floating plat- leo simultaneously. Such applications them for Earth observation, commu- forms are to be anchored, during div- must be able to warn the user if perfor- nications, transport and for managing ing operations and when supply ships mance is unsatisfactory. our resources. Satellite navigation plays and tankers come alongside or operate It will be possible to use the Galileo an important role in these areas. in the vicinity of oil installations. system in many areas that have noth- In earlier plans for Galileo, there ing to do with transport or traffic. The was a good chance that its performance a european system for satellite Galileo satellites are equipped with would not be as good at Northern navigation very accurate atomic clocks and can latitudes. A Norwegian simulation of At present, the US GPS system and the thus indicate both position and time various satellite orbits showed that an Russian Glonass systems are used for with extremely high accuracy. alternative placement would give much satellite navigation. The European Among other things, this can be better coverage in the North and would satellite navigation system Galileo will utilized in management and control also be advantageous for users else- start up in about 2015. systems for the power industry, internet where. Norway's view held sway and this 'Galileo and GPS together will give and digital communications, broad- solution is now being implemented. greater accuracy, better availability casting and time stamping of financial Norway also contributes with stra- and better coverage,' says Steinar transactions. In a high-tech society tegically important ground stations Thomsen, head of the department for there are many applications for super- in Svalbard, on Jan Mayen and in the satellite navigation at the Norwegian accurate time and position information. Antarctic. 'With increased activity Space Centre. These things are impor- in the High North and in Antarctica, tant for many users. norway and galileo there is no doubt that the navigations Applications that demand extremely Because of our extensive coastline, large satellites will be very useful for Nor- high accuracy and reliability, such as sea areas and demanding climate, the way,' says Thomsen.

NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION | 45 Norway's eye in space

The Norwegian satellite With its extensive coastline and large The AIS messages are used by the ocean areas, Norway needs to have a Norwegian Coastal Administration, AISSat-1 was launched into a simple and clear system for monitor- the Directorate of Fisheries and the low Earth orbit in July 2010. ing ship traffic. This is done using Coast Guard among others to keep the Automatic Identification System a close eye on ship traffic, fishery From there the small satellite (AIS), an international anti-collision resources and maritime boundaries, keeps an eye on vessel traffic system that all vessels of more than as well as to identify and contact ves- 300 gross tonnes are legally required sels in distress. in Norwegian waters. It plays to use. a useful part in resource The AIS system on board transmits a satellite for norwegian needs data about the ship's identity, posi- Norway and other coastal nations have monitoring, safety and tion, course and speed. It also includes base stations for receiving AIS signals rescue operations. messages from nearby vessels. Ship along the coast, but these base sta- traffic can thus be plotted on an elec- tions only have a reach of between 30 By Berit Ellingsen tronic chart or radar screen. and 40 nautical miles off the coast.

46 | NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION AISSat-1 being fitted to the Indian carrier rocket PSLV prior to launching. Norway's eye Photo: Space Flight Laboratory/UTIAS in space

AISSat-1 orbits from pole to pole at an altitude of 600 kilometres. Illustration: FFI/NASA/Norsk Romsenter/ nyhetsgrafikk.no

With an AIS receiver on board a sat- A Canadian satellite platform was via Kongsberg Satellite Services' down- ellite, the coverage is considerably specially adapted by the University of loading station in Svalbard. increased. High altitude increases the Toronto to be able to carry the Norwe- The users of the small Norwegian satellite range so that large expanses gian AIS receiver. AISSat-1 is a collabo- satellite are very satisfied with the of ocean can be observed. That is why rative project between the Norwegian result. 'AISSat-1 has been quite revo- Norway decided to build the AIS satel- Coastal Administration, the Norwegian lutionary for our monitoring of the lite AISSat-1. Defence Research Establishment, the sea areas generally. We have learned a AISSat-1 is a nanosatellite and Norwegian Space Centre and Kongs- great deal about shipping routes and measures 20 x 20 x 20 centimetres. berg Seatex. The satellite was financed received much more traffic informa- It is cube-shaped and weighs just six by the Ministry of Trade and Industry tion,' says Arve Dimmen, Maritime kilos. The small satellite was launched and is owned by the Norwegian Space Safety Director in the Norwegian into a low Earth orbit from India on Centre. The total cost of the satellite Coastal Administration. 11 July 2010. The satellite now orbits was about NOK 30 million. The life of AISSat-1 has fully satisfied the from pole to pole at an altitude of AISSat-1 is estimated to be up to three expectations of Dimmen and his about 600 kilometres. years. Communication with AISSat-1 is colleagues. The Norwegian Coastal

NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION | 47 Administration uses data from the meets other ships - possibly to transfer 'When ships know that we can track satellite to keep an eye on both catches of fish - or puts to port. We can their activities and movements, the Norwegian and international waters. then check whether these movements opportunities for illegal fishing are Per Wangensten at the Norwegian tally with the log books, daily fishing limited,' says Wangensten. Directorate of Fisheries is also pleased reports, landing information and other with the way AISSat-1 performs. documentation,' says Wangensten. comes into play during 'AISSat-1 is quite clearly an impor- We are not talking about small oil spills and disasters tant tool for us,' says Wangensten. By quantities of fish. The Directorate of AISSat-1 has also played a role in using the satellite it is possible to see Fisheries has previously calculated investi­gating oil spills. On 6 April just about all major ships in Norwe- that the overfishing of cod in the Bar- 2011 radar satellite images showed a gian waters, track the vessels' activities ents Sea alone is between 20,000 and 34-kilometre long oil slick 80 nautical and investigate whether they are fish- 100,000 tonnes annually. As well as miles north of the Finnmark coast. ing illegally. giving a better overall picture of fish- Using information from the AIS 'We look at the ship's speed, the ery resources, the satellite monitoring receivers along the coast and AISSat-1, area where it is located, whether it also has a preventive effect. the Norwegian Coastal Administration's

48 | NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION Above: AISSat-1 being built in Canada Photo: FFI

Left: Bjørn Ottar Elseth (left) of the Norwegian Space Centre is handed a model of AISSat-1 by FFI's Bjørn T. Narheim. Photo: Norwegian Space Centre

time it has been possible to track ship solutions, specially adapted to Nor- traffic around Svalbard and compile wegian conditions,' said Trade and statistics about it. Such statistics will Industry Minister Trond Giske, about become increasingly important in the AISSat-1 in 2010. years ahead, as more and more ships traffic the Arctic. aissat-2 Norway also has an AIS receiver, With AISSat-1 and the NORAIS instru- NORAIS, on the international space ment in the space station, Norway is station. It is in a lower orbit than AIS- a pilot nation in tracking ship traf- Sat-1 and can therefore analyse areas fic from space. AISSat-1 has been so where traffic is denser. Unlike AIS- useful and has worked so well that a Sat-1, the space station does not pass successor is on its way. AISSat-2 will over the High North and Arctic, so the have exactly the same instruments as two AIS instruments in space cover AISSat-1 and will contribute to more vessel traffic services (VTS) centre in different areas. frequent tracking of AIS signals. Two Vardø was able to identify which ship satellites in orbit also provide a more had been in the area concerned and get international attention robust system in the event of power- to the bottom of the matter. The spill AISSat-1 has attracted international ful solar storms, which may knock out was caused by a fault in the pump sys- attention. The European Space electronic systems. tem on a prawn trawler. Agency, ESA, has engaged the Norwe- The main instrument in AISSat-2 AISSat-1 also assisted by tracking gian Defence Research Establishment is being built by Kongsberg Seatex. ships in the sea around the disaster and Norwegian industry to study an The project will be managed by the area after the earthquake in Japan in AIS satellite solution for the whole of Norwegian Defence Research Estab- March 2011. Europe. Canada and the USA are also lishment on behalf of the Norwegian Based on data from AISSat-1, the interested in AIS using satellites. Space Centre. A third satellite is being Coastal Administration has also pub- 'The satellite is an example of how planned. It will be equipped with new lished a map showing the density of long-term investment in Norwegian instruments and be the next genera- vessel traffic around Svalbard in the centres of excellence leads to good, tion AIS satellite. project Barents Watch. It is the first innovative and high-technology

NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION | 49 A glimpse of the antennas on the Norwegian station TrollSat in Queen Maud Land, Antarctica. Photo: KSAT At the top of the world

Norway has stations for receiving data from satellites both in Svalbard and in Antarctica. Because of the geographical locations, these ground stations have been a great success.

By Berit Ellingsen

The two stations for downloading satel- owners are very clear about what they up-to-date data and more frequent lite data are located in two of the world's want. We succeed in satisfying their updates about what is happening on coldest and most inhospitable places. needs both cost effectively and with the satellite. The ground station SvalSat is located on technically sound solutions,' says Rolf the Platåfjellet mountain, which towers Skatteboe, general manager of Kongs- both research and operational over Longyearbyen in Svalbard, while berg Satellite Services (KSAT), which satellites the TrollSat ground station is located at operates the ground stations Svalsat At present between 60 and 70 differ- a height of 1,500 metres in Queen Maud and TrollSat. ent satellites are using Svalsat. The Land in Antarctica. As a rule, satellite owners wish to ground station communicate with sat- In both places, it is so cold that the communicate with the satellites and ellites at least 10,000 times a month. satellite antennas have to be inside download data from them as often as That makes SvalSat the world's busiest plastic domes and the installations possible. But satellites in orbit over the ground station. require less cooling equipment than poles are often on the wrong side of the Both satellites in operational ser- other ground stations. Winds up to Earth in relation to ground stations in vice (for example, weather satellites) twice hurricane strength have been southern or more central latitudes, as and research satellites (for example, measured. But it is precisely their the Earth rotates constantly under the the gravity field measurement satellite geographical location, each at its own satellite. On the other hand, a ground GOCE and the ice thickness measure- end of the globe, which makes these station in the Arctic or Antarctic can ment satellite CryoSat) send their data ground stations so useful. contact the satellite every time it passes down to SvalSat. The data go to KSAT over the polar area. This makes for in Tromsø for further processing or more frequent contact much more effective communication. are sent directly to the satellite own- with the satellites A ground station in the Arctic or ers. It has not been difficult to persuade Antarctic can communicate with sat- The Norwegian ground stations are satellite owners and space organiza- ellites in polar orbit approximately set to become even more important. tions about the advantages of SvalSat every 100 minutes. The combination The satellites in the European naviga- and TrollSat. of SvalSat and TrollSat makes it possi- tion system Galileo will use SvalSat as 'As satellites are expensive and ble to contact polar orbiting satellites their primary data downloading sta- long-term investments, the satellite every 50 minutes. This provides more tion. The data from all six satellites in

NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION | 51 The satellite station SvalSat is located on Platåfjellet outside Longyearbyen in Svalbard. Photo: KSAT

the Sentinel series, Europe's new sat- The Norwegian Space Centre ran In January 2008, TrollSat was opened ellites for environmental and human the ground station in Svalbard, as well by none other than Prime Minister security, will also be downloaded to as the one in Tromsø, until 2000. Then Jens Stoltenberg. Svalbard. a company was formed with the inten- The technological infrastructure for tion of taking on all satellite activity the ground stations has also benefited long sought-after location in Norway. It was the predecessor of the local population in Svalbard and A ground station was established on Kongsberg Satellite Services. Half of the scientists in Antarctica. The fibre Svalbard as early as in the late 1960s, the company was sold to the Kongs- cables that provide for high speed data but it was shut down when the Euro- berg Group in 2002. Initially KSAT had transfer from SvalSat to Norway pro- pean satellite programme served by a staff of 40 – now it has 130. vide good internet connection for the the station was concluded. 'Many of those who were involved whole of Svalbard. The transmission of Many satellite owners and space right from the beginning are still with the data from TrollSat via Telenor's new organizations wished to use Svalbard us, as the satellite business is long- Thor 7 satellite will bring stable, high- because of the geographical advan- term and continuity is important,' says speed broadband to the Antarctic. tages. In 1995 EUMETSAT, the Euro- Skatteboe. At present SvalSat has around 25 pean weather satellite organization, permanent staff. The Norwegian Polar wanted to build a ground station in part of a long polar tradition Institute has a staff of eight at the Troll Svalbard. NASA also needed down- Antarctica is one of the most inacces- research station, of which TrollSat is loading services for a series of Earth sible places in the world to build on, a part. observation satellites in polar orbit. but TrollSat was established through 'Norway is a polar nation. There The US space agency entered into a good collaboration with the Norwe- have been no problems finding people partnership with the Norwegian Space gian Polar Institute, once it had been who want to work on the satellite sta- Centre in order to establish a ground decided that Norway was to have a tions in Svalbard or Antarctica,' con- station in Svalbard. permanent presence in the Antarctic. cludes Skatteboe.

52 | NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION Anders Omholt

'My impression was that Andøya Rocket Range was preferred by international scientists because everything was simpler up there - less paper and bureaucracy.' Anders Omholt

Former Professor at the University of Oslo, Head of research in the Federation of Norwegian Industries and Managing Director of the former NAVF (now part of the Research Council of Norway). Photo: Trude Eng To Mars from Svalbard Every summer, on Svalbard, AMASE tests equipment and daunting natural environment also furnish the 30 or so scientists who take research bound for Mars. The whole thing began with a part in AMASE every year with unique research ship and a remarkable meteorite. experiences. The conditions provide a platform for team-building and coop- By Berit Ellingsen Since 2003, AMASE (the Arctic Mars eration across specialist disciplines Analog Svalbard Expedition) has and national borders, which is a big been testing equipment, technology advantage in modern space research. and research methodology destined for Mars. Scientists from both NASA a mythical meteorite from Mars and ESA participate in the expedi- The whole thing began with Hans tions, which take place in one of the Amundsen taking a summer job as a environments on Earth that most geological field assistant on Svalbard. resemble our neighbour, the red He sailed with the Norwegian Polar planet. Institute's research vessel 'Lance' on Among other things, AMASE has her maiden voyage from Bodø to the tested an X-ray device and a chemical Arctic island group in 1981. organic molecule detection sensor for 'I caught "Polar fever" and was NASA's Mars rover Curiosity, as well completely carried away by the free- as a Norwegian radar that can see into dom and the raw nature on Svalbard the ground and will be installed on the and could not bear the idea of not Mars rover ExoMars. going there again,' says Amundsen. Svalbard's severe climate and This led to studies in geology, several

54 | NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION Panoramic view of the Sverrefjell volcano on Svalbard Photo: Kjell Ove Storvik/AMASE

To Mars from Svalbard research trips to Svalbard and a doc- similar minerals anywhere on Earth? support from the Norwegian Space torate on the volcanoes in Bokkfjorden Then, in 1997, Amundsen received Centre and the University of Oslo at the northern end of the island an email from NASA saying that among others, he hired the ice-breaker group. After his studies, Amundsen one of his articles on the geology 'Polarsyssel' and sold berths to NASA went into the oil industry. around the Sverrefjell volcano on and other research institutions to 'Then there was no outlet for my Svalbard described minerals similar study the Mars-like geology in Sval- polar fever and I did not like that,' says to those found in the Mars meteorite. bard. Amundsen. But help was on the way, The NASA scientists asked to see The first AMASE expedition was from our neighbour, the red planet. Amundsen's samples from the area launched in 2003. Amundsen met In 1996 NASA scientists discov- and wondered whether he was a colourful gang of 16 people in ered that a meteorite by the name of interested in taking part in studies of Longyearbyen, and they all left for ALH84001 came from Mars. It is the Mars meteorites. Bokkfjorden. To put it mildly, it was a very first meteorite from our neigh- 'At first I thought it was a joke, but I memorable voyage. bouring planet that has been found on checked around and then sent photos 'We had fantastic weather - 20 Earth. The meteorite contained unu- and samples to NASA,' says Amund- degrees in the shade, blue skies, calm sual mineral carbonates, which some sen. This led to him being invited to conditions and midnight sun, so the scientists thought was proof that there the space agency to give a lecture and expedition members were completely was life on Mars. After a media leak present his research. struck dumb by the unbelievable led to a contentious press conference The contact with the scientists at nature. Polar fever took charge and at NASA, an extensive scientific debate NASA and the desire to travel back to they simply had to come back,' says started around ALH84001. What was Svalbard caused Amundsen to found Amundsen. the origin of the remarkable miner- the company Earth and Planetary The following summer he als in the Mars meteorite? Were there Exploration Services in 1999. With organised the logistics and crew for

NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION | 55 Every year the AMASE team mem- bers pose as 'Men in Black'. The title comes from a film about secret agents who carry out surveillance of extraterrestrial visitors to Earth. Photo: AMASE

Testing of the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment's georadar 'WISDOM', which will search for underground ice and water on Mars. Photo: AMASE

a fresh expedition and arranged Mars. It is also one of the few projects more berths. The Mars expeditions where scientists and engineers from gradually began to attract a lot ESA and NASA are welded together of attention from the media and into cross-disciplinary teams. the research world. Through the Being leader of an expedition of Norwegian Embassy in Washington, 30 scientists from all over the world, Amundsen was invited to the White some of them with no previous expe- House to present AMASE to President rience of outdoor life, in an Arctic George Bush's staff and many of the environment with polar bears, weap- leading scientists in NASA. Photos ons, glaciers and other challenges, of Svalbard taken by the regular has led to many fantastic experiences expedition photographer, Kjell Ove and stories. Storvik, spread rapidly through NASA 'The research carried out on the and ESA. AMASE expeditions is very exciting in The expedition grew steadily. From itself, but absolutely the most reward- 2006, the trip to Svalbard used the ing thing is seeing how expedition life, Norwegian Polar Institute's vessel various adventures and the natural 'Lance', the ship on which the whole environment on Svalbard transform venture started. Through the Nor- people and create an enormous feel- wegian Space Centre the expedition ing of camaraderie and team spirit,' obtained support from ESA, and sci- says Amundsen. entists from both ESA and NASA were As the cold, barren natural envi- soon to participate in the trip. In 2010, ronment on Svalbard is perfect for the Norwegian Broadcasting Corpora- testing equipment and research des- tion NRK also took part in AMASE and tined for other planets, Amundsen made a one-hour documentary which wants to take with him technology and was sold on to several countries. methods that, in future, may be used on the moon. transforms those who take The combination of field work, part in the expedition science, technology and physical After ten years' operations, AMASE challenges on AMASE is also ideal for is in a class of its own for testing out training astronauts for future space science and technology for voyages to voyages. The rover 'Fido' being tested during AMASE Photo: AMASE

56 | NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION The rover 'Fido' being tested during AMASE Photo: AMASE The barren nature and demanding environment on Svalbard can also be used for training astronauts who are to travel to other planets. Photo: Kjell Ove Storvik/AMASE

NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION | 57 The mission man Rune Floberghagen ESA MISSION MANAGER Jobs in the space industry Rune Floberghagen is mission manager 'Why and how did you begin to work in the for two of ESA's satellite projects: GOCE space field?' (Gravity field and steady-state Ocean 'I knew fairly early on, from the end of Thousands of people worldwide Circulation Explorer), which measures lower secondary school or the start of work in the global space indus- the Earth's gravitational field, and upper secondary school, that I wanted Swarm, a trio of satellites whose task to work in aeronautics or the space try. What is it like to work in the is to investigate the Earth's magnetic industry. As there were no space stud- space industry, and how do you field. GOCE was launched in 2009 and ies in Norway at that time, I travelled was the first of ESA's Earth Explorer to Holland to study space technology get in? We talk to two people who satellites for Earth observation. Swarm, at the University of Delft. have found a way in. another satellite in the same series, is As a PhD student I carried out planned for launch in 2013. research into gravity and satellite technology and how satellites may What does your job entail? be used to investigate gravity. As ESA The common denominator for those 'I am mission manager for GOCE and needed someone who had worked working in key positions in the space SWARM, two of ESA's satellites for both with gravity and satellite technol- industry is that they have a great pas- studying the Earth's magnetic field. ogy, I was headhunted for the GOCE sion for what they are doing and have A mission manager is responsible project. There I was responsible for developed not just the professional, for the satellite after it has been the quality of the measurements that but also the personal skills that space launched and has entered its operatio­ the satellite was to make and I worked projects need. nal phase. I ensure that all users of the on the whole process from reception Many of my colleagues and staff satellite - scientists, member countries of the data on the ground through to have educational backgrounds in and the space agency - are satisfied the final products. When GOCE was informatics, physics, astronomy or and that the resources required for nearly fully developed, the project biology. They do not necessarily have keeping the satellite in operation are needed a mission manager. As I had a specific background in Earth obser- available. worked on both the design of the sat- vation or satellite technology, which Being a mission manager is a heavy ellite and the whole data processing is what we deal with. But since Earth responsibility. It is a busy life and I chain and was very familiar with the observation, the business of monitor- often say that my timetable feels as user base, I was an obvious candidate.' ing the Earth's climate, environment dense as a neutron star. There is never and resources, is important from both a dull day. You have to be comfortable 'What is the most important thing young- a scientific and societal perspective, with having many irons in the fire and sters wishing to work in the space industry it attracts people from many different having a lot of contact with everyone can do? What type of education should they disciplines. who uses the satellite. You must also choose?' Working on Earth observation feels be able to communicate honestly and 'If you want to work in the space field, meaningful to us, because it means straightforwardly with colleagues, it does not really matter too much that we can understand the Earth's users and contacts and be able to lis- what you have studied, as the industry major processes and systems better ten to what they think could have been requires all scientific and technical and can be a party to finding clear done better. At the same time you disciplines and specialisms. What is answers to difficult questions that have to be proactive and not just reac- important is to have a real passion affect all societies and countries. tive and be able to think ahead about for what you are doing. If you are If you want to work at the front edge future project requirements.' doing something you enjoy and find of space and research generally, enthu- meaningful, and look forward to going siasm and interest are the most impor- in to work, then you are also more tant things. When I take on new people, likely to do a good job and be noticed. those are the first things I look for.'

58 | NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION The space entrepreneur Christina Aas General Manager of Science [&] Technology AS

'What do you do?' solutions and develop systems for offers a one-year Master's degree and 'I am the general manager of the com- rockets and satellites, or analyse data a three-month summer course that is pany Science [&] Technology AS. We from space, you have to have a science held in a different place every year. produce software solutions that are background. Last, but not least, there are asso- used as analysis tools for many differ- Various fields of study at the Uni- ciations for those who are interested ent space applications. Our analysis versity of Oslo, the Norwegian Uni- in space, such as the Norwegian Astro- tools are used for quality control, versity of Science and Technology and nautical Society and the Norwegian validation and visualization of data Narvik University College give students Astronomical Society. They meet regu- from various Earth observation satel- the chance to build satellites. Narvik larly and go on tours around the world lites and their ground stations. Our University College offers a special to see various space phenomena. products are also used for monitoring Master's degree in satellite technology. There are many possibilities if you complex space systems such as rocket To be involved in building a satellite is have space as an interest.' engines. We also take part in several extremely useful, as you gain hands- projects. One of them is to calculate on experience in building instruments 'Is the space industry attracting more how quickly the ice cap on Greenland and in observing a launch. women? What can be done to recruit more is melting. Another is based on devel- Many universities in Europe and women to studies that lead in that direction?' oping a computer game that uses space the USA offer space-related studies, 'There will of course be more and as a learning tool in science subjects.' and it is both informative and useful more women taking space studies to spend a year, or take a study course and working in the space industry, as 'What does your job entail?' at a university abroad. The Norwegian more and more women are choosing 'My education was as a space engineer State Educational Loan Fund provides science subjects. But there are certain and physicist. I have previously worked good support for this. things that can be done to attract more directly on program coding, technical The European Space Agency, ESA, women to space studies. analysis of requirements for various offers several possibilities for stu- I took space studies at Delft Univer- systems and managing various pro- dents who wish to work in the space sity of Technology in Holland. In the gram development projects. As general field. Among other things, ESA has three years I was there, the propor- manager of Science [&] Technology AS, grants for students who wish to take tion of female students went up from I now manage the finances, market- part in space conferences, where one 5 to 15%. This happened because the ing and sales of our products and have may study one's subject in greater university was, and still is, conduct- three full-time and three part-time depth and meet other students with ing a special campaign to attract more employees. Being general manager of the same interests. ESA also has pro- female students to the space studies my own company means frequent long grammes for students who want to course. They invite students from days, as extra effort is necessary.' work on space projects for their Mas- upper secondary schools to come and ter's degree. On completion of your see what the space studies students 'How do you get into the space industry?' studies you can apply for an intern- are doing. They also have a film of 'What sort of education do you need?' ship in the space agency, so that you interviews with female students who 'I usually say that to make a start in see what it is like to work in the space are attending different parts of the the space industry, you can have any field. ESA also has a special trainee study programme, or who have started kind of education. The most impor- programme, which recruits many work in the space industry, to show tant thing is to be interested in space. students to the European space indus- what their jobs are about and what The space industry needs all kinds of try. It is an excellent opportunity to opportunities there are. people - engineers, scientists, doc- become part of the industry. Successfully de-mystifying the tors, psychologists, project managers, If you lack a space science educa- space industry and showing that it is marketeers, accountants and lawyers. tion, there are other ways. The Interna- not unattainable, but great fun, will But if you want to work on technical tional Space University in Strasbourg attract more students.'

NORWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A SPACE NATION | 59 Europe's new time machine Planck has the most complicated and advanced instruments Europe has ever sent out into space. With support from the Research Council of Norway, Norwegian scientists are working at interpreting the data. The spacecraft was launched in June 2009. Thirty months later the cooling fluid ran out, marking the end of data collection, but not of the research. Planck is the first European space observatory to have investigated the microwaves that are left in the universe from the Big Bang and the time imme- diately afterwards, when the cosmos came into being. Planck has given us the sharpest ever images of the universe when it was very young, at the tender age of 380,000 years, and will contrib- ute to new theories about the birth of Planck can help the scientists to reveal the secret behind dark energy and dark matter. Photo: ESA the universe and its development. The observatory has measured small The Institute of Theoretical for the first two years. Norway's differences in the cosmic background Astrophysics at the University of membership of ESA ensured that radiation with an accuracy that no Oslo has been heavily involved in we could participate in the decision other instrument can display. The sci- the development of Planck since to build the satellite. Financial entists hope to obtain new insight into 1998. The Institute took part in the support from the Research Council the questions about the structure of the development of the satellite's low- of Norway has meant that the universe with its dark matter and dark frequency instrument and is among researchers are also able to take part energy, and thus fill in large gaps in our a small group of researchers who in processing and interpreting the total knowledge of the cosmology. have exclusive access to the data data afterwards.

the research council and space research

The Research Council of Norway's pro- in the sun and its atmosphere and how mapping of resources, pollution from gramme for space research shall safe- solar winds and solar activity affect the petroleum activities, monitoring and guard the research-related exploitation world's environment and technological management of the polar regions. of Norwegian space activity within the systems. The second area relates to The research council regards this field organizations ESA, EISCAT, NOTSA during the development of the universe, with of study as being suitable for dissemina- the period 2011 to 2018. emphasis on understanding fundamental tion and it is anticipated that the results The programme has three priority astrophysical processes. The third priority of research will contribute to increasing areas. Sun-Earth-Physics emphasizes the area is Earth observation from satellites, interest in science subjects and scientific understanding of fundamental processes with emphasis on climate monitoring, research generally.

Editor in Chief: Marianne Moen Editor: Christer Aasen Journalist: Berit Ellingsen P.O. Box 113 Skøyen Layout: Melkeveien Designkontor AS NO-0212 Oslo, Norway Printed by: Rolf Ottesen AS Telephone: (+47) 22 51 18 00 Published with financial support from the Faks: (+47) 22 51 18 01 Research Council of Norway www.romsenter.no NSC Report (2013)2 [email protected] ISBN 987-82-7542-101-0